Melectoides triseriatus (Friese)

ROZEN, JEROME G., 2003, Eggs, Ovariole Numbers, and Modes of Parasitism of Cleptoparasitic Bees, with Emphasis on Neotropical Species (Hymenoptera: Apoidea), American Museum Novitates 3413, pp. 1-36 : 15

Melectoides triseriatus (Friese)

The mature oocyte of this species differs from that of Isepeolus luctuosus as follows: (1) the flange is much more conspicuous; (2) the eclosion line is evident; (3) the dorsal chorion is much thicker compared with the ventral chorion and with the dorsal chorion of I. luctuosus ; (4) the rear flange material does not form blisterlike swellings; and (5) the rear venter of the oocyte is not roughened compared with the rest of the ventral chorion.

DESCRIPTION OF MATURE OOCYTE (figs. 10, 13–15): Length 1.25–1.48 mm, maximum dorsal­view width 0.40–0.60 mm, maximum lateral­view width 0.38–0.50 mm (N = 9); dorsal width almost always greater than lateral width; egg index 0.47 (all specimens) (dwarf). Shape bilaterally symmetrical along its gently curved long axis with dorsal surface incurved; both ends rounded with maximum width and height about midsection; as seen in lateral view (figs. 10, 15), posterior end tapering more than anterior end; flange of finely wrinkled chorion circumscribing entire dorsal/ventral outline of oocyte; flange folded ventrally so that it more or less adheres to sides of oocyte below line of attachment, thus giving appearance that oocyte has a rounded ridge; rear flange not forming blisterlike swellings; micropyle a dorsal rosette near anterior end. Ovum white. Chorion of flange clear but wrinkled; rest of chorion faintly uneven on outer surface, clear except inner surface finely etched, hence somewhat milky; chorion of dorsal surface three times thicker than that of ventral surface; eclosion line a fine, silvery band easily split by manipulation with forceps, extending about two­thirds length of oocyte from anterior end on dorsal surface, as seen in figures 10 and 13.

MATERIAL STUDIED: Five females, Chile: Elqui Prov., Las Placetas, 15­X­2001 (J.G. Rozen, A. Ugarte, C. Espina) .

REMARKS: Even before dissection, mature oocytes of this species were easily identified by the lateral ridge (formed by the folded flange) seen through the follicular tissue of the ovariole.