Artificial reproduction in a hymenopteran insect, Athalia rosae, using eggs matured with heterospecific yolk proteins and fertilized with cryopreserved sperm

Abstract

Previtellogenic ovaries of Athalia rosae (Hymenoptera, Symphyta, Tenthredinidae) were transplanted into the adult female abdominal hemocoel of Athalia infumata (Symphyta, Tenthredinidae), Arge nigrinodosa (Symphyta, Argidae), and Pimpla nipponica (Apocrita, Ichneumonidae). The donor oocytes accumulated heterospecific yolk proteins and matured in the A. infumata host. On average, six mature oocytes were obtained per transplanted ovary. In contrast, the donor oocytes accumulated a limited amount of yolk but did not mature in the Ar. nigrinodosa host and did not even accumulate yolk in the P. nipponica host. The eggs that matured in the A. infumata host were injected with cryopreserved A. rosae sperm that had been taken from adult male seminal vesicles and stored at –80°C. Fertilization, as confirmed by the use of visible marker mutations, was achieved and a fraction of the injected eggs developed into fertile female adults. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 43:137–144, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.