Physogastrism or physogastry is a characteristic of certain arthropods (mostly insects and mites), where the abdomen is greatly enlarged and membranous. The most common examples are the "queens" of certain species of eusocial insects such as termites, bees and ants, in which the abdomen swells in order to hold enlarged ovaries, thus increasing fecundity. This means that the queen has the ability to hold more and produce more eggs at one time. Physogastric queens produce an enormous number of eggs which can account for a significant amount of their body weight. In the termite species Macrotermes subhyalinus, eggs can make up a third of their body weight, and a 15-gram queen can produce up to 30 eggs per minute. The physogastric queens' egg production is supported by oocyte proteins supplied by the "queen body fat."[1]
Physogastrism in termites presents itself in quite an unusual manner. Unlike most physogastric insects, the queen termite is able to increase its size without the use of cuticular molting. Rather, the queen unfolds and stretches her abdominal epicuticle in order to make room for the subsequent egg deposits. This process has been observed to be incredibly slow (sometimes over the course of several years).[2]
In beesedit
Many stingless bee species have physogastric queens, such as the South American species Paratrigona subnuda and Schwarziana quadripunctata.[3] Physogastrism can also be seen in the stingless bee species Melipona bicolor, which is facultatively polygynous, and therefore one or more physogastric queens can be found in the same colony.[4] These queens interact with each other within the colony, and during the patrolling phase, a queen may attempt to touch the abdomen of another queen. The other queen turns her abdomen away, and what follows is the two queens circling one another, trying to touch the other's abdomen; as such, the queens are almost always active.[5]
Various lineages of non-social insects demonstrate various degrees of physogastry, especially among females. The most dramatic and best-known are among the beetles, especially certain groups that live inside ant or termite nests, where the distended abdomen is thought to enhance integration into their hosts' colonies,[6][7] though it is also seen in several herbivorous beetle lineages such as Chrysomelidae (e.g., Gastrophysa) and Meloidae (e.g., Megetra).
Females of endoparasitic fleas, in particular in the genus Tunga, exhibit severe physogastry once they have penetrated the host's skin and begun to produce eggs.
Many Acari (ticks and mites) have physogastric females, sometimes involving precocious development of offspring inside the mother's body.[8]
Referencesedit
^Wyss-Huber, M.; Lüscher, M. (1975-10-01). "Protein synthesis in 'fat body' and ovary of the physogastric queen of Macrotermes subhyalinus". Journal of Insect Physiology. 21 (10): 1697–1704. doi:10.1016/0022-1910(75)90182-1.
^Bordereau, Christian (1982). "Ultrastructure and formation of the physogastric termite queen cuticle". Tissue & Cell. 14 (2): 371–396. doi:10.1016/0040-8166(82)90034-9. PMID 6214044.
^Nogueira-Ferreira, F.H.; Silva-Matos, E.V.; Zucchi, R. (2009). "Interaction and behavior of virgin and physogastric queens in three Meliponini species (Hymenoptera, Apidae)". Genetics and Molecular Research. 8 (2): 703–708. doi:10.4238/vol8-2kerr008. PMID 19554769.
^Koedam, D., et al. "The behaviour of laying workers and the morphology and viability of their eggs In Melipona bicolor bicolor." Physiological Entomology 26.3 (2001): 254-259. Academic Search Premier. Web. 26 Sept. 2015.
^Hayo H.W. Velthuis, Han De Vries, Vera L. Imperatriz-Fonseca. The polygyny of Melipona bicolor: scramble competition among queens. Apidologie, Springer Verlag (Germany), 2006, 37 (2), pp.222-239. <hal-00892206>
^A.V. Evans, C.L. Bellamy. 2000. An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles. University of California Press. (p. 64). ISBN9780520223233
^The termitophilous staphylinid beetle Paracorotoca akermani (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae) is representative example of physogastry. The tumid abdomen is turned upside, with the ventral side above. From Obenberger (1952) – via ResearchGate.
^C.R. Ferreira de Oliveira, L.R. D’Antonino Faroni, R.N. Carvalho Guedes, A. Pallini, J.R. Gonçalves. 2006. Parasitism of the mite Acarophenax lacunatus on Tribolium castaneum. Pesq. Agropec. Bras., Brasília. 41(6): 1059-1061.
April 11, 2024
physogastrism, physogastry, characteristic, certain, arthropods, mostly, insects, mites, where, abdomen, greatly, enlarged, membranous, most, common, examples, queens, certain, species, eusocial, insects, such, termites, bees, ants, which, abdomen, swells, ord. Physogastrism or physogastry is a characteristic of certain arthropods mostly insects and mites where the abdomen is greatly enlarged and membranous The most common examples are the queens of certain species of eusocial insects such as termites bees and ants in which the abdomen swells in order to hold enlarged ovaries thus increasing fecundity This means that the queen has the ability to hold more and produce more eggs at one time Physogastric queens produce an enormous number of eggs which can account for a significant amount of their body weight In the termite species Macrotermes subhyalinus eggs can make up a third of their body weight and a 15 gram queen can produce up to 30 eggs per minute The physogastric queens egg production is supported by oocyte proteins supplied by the queen body fat 1 Contents 1 In termites 2 In bees 3 In non social insects and other arthropods 4 ReferencesIn termites edit nbsp Termite queenPhysogastrism in termites presents itself in quite an unusual manner Unlike most physogastric insects the queen termite is able to increase its size without the use of cuticular molting Rather the queen unfolds and stretches her abdominal epicuticle in order to make room for the subsequent egg deposits This process has been observed to be incredibly slow sometimes over the course of several years 2 In bees editMany stingless bee species have physogastric queens such as the South American species Paratrigona subnuda and Schwarziana quadripunctata 3 Physogastrism can also be seen in the stingless bee species Melipona bicolor which is facultatively polygynous and therefore one or more physogastric queens can be found in the same colony 4 These queens interact with each other within the colony and during the patrolling phase a queen may attempt to touch the abdomen of another queen The other queen turns her abdomen away and what follows is the two queens circling one another trying to touch the other s abdomen as such the queens are almost always active 5 In non social insects and other arthropods edit nbsp Female of a Gastrophysa speciesVarious lineages of non social insects demonstrate various degrees of physogastry especially among females The most dramatic and best known are among the beetles especially certain groups that live inside ant or termite nests where the distended abdomen is thought to enhance integration into their hosts colonies 6 7 though it is also seen in several herbivorous beetle lineages such as Chrysomelidae e g Gastrophysa and Meloidae e g Megetra Females of endoparasitic fleas in particular in the genus Tunga exhibit severe physogastry once they have penetrated the host s skin and begun to produce eggs Many Acari ticks and mites have physogastric females sometimes involving precocious development of offspring inside the mother s body 8 References edit Wyss Huber M Luscher M 1975 10 01 Protein synthesis in fat body and ovary of the physogastric queen of Macrotermes subhyalinus Journal of Insect Physiology 21 10 1697 1704 doi 10 1016 0022 1910 75 90182 1 Bordereau Christian 1982 Ultrastructure and formation of the physogastric termite queen cuticle Tissue amp Cell 14 2 371 396 doi 10 1016 0040 8166 82 90034 9 PMID 6214044 Nogueira Ferreira F H Silva Matos E V Zucchi R 2009 Interaction and behavior of virgin and physogastric queens in three Meliponini species Hymenoptera Apidae Genetics and Molecular Research 8 2 703 708 doi 10 4238 vol8 2kerr008 PMID 19554769 Koedam D et al The behaviour of laying workers and the morphology and viability of their eggs In Melipona bicolor bicolor Physiological Entomology 26 3 2001 254 259 Academic Search Premier Web 26 Sept 2015 Hayo H W Velthuis Han De Vries Vera L Imperatriz Fonseca The polygyny of Melipona bicolor scramble competition among queens Apidologie Springer Verlag Germany 2006 37 2 pp 222 239 lt hal 00892206 gt A V Evans C L Bellamy 2000 An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles University of California Press p 64 ISBN 9780520223233 The termitophilous staphylinid beetle Paracorotoca akermani Coleoptera Staphylinidae is representative example of physogastry The tumid abdomen is turned upside with the ventral side above From Obenberger 1952 via ResearchGate C R Ferreira de Oliveira L R D Antonino Faroni R N Carvalho Guedes A Pallini J R Goncalves 2006 Parasitism of the mite Acarophenax lacunatus on Tribolium castaneum Pesq Agropec Bras Brasilia 41 6 1059 1061 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Physogastrism amp oldid 1106167660, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
