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Sex Control by Bees: A Voluntary Act of Egg Fertilization during Oviposition

1970; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 167; Issue: 3914 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.167.3914.82

1095-9203

Henry S. Gerber, E. C. Klostermeyer,

Insect and Pesticide Research

The alfalfa leaf-cutter bee, Megachile rotundata , stops abdominal contractions briefly during oviposition of female eggs but not during oviposition of male eggs. Sperm stored in the spermatheca probably is pumped onto the micropyle of the egg during this pause. The stimulus inducing fertilization seems to be associated with the depth of the nesting tunnel.