TROPHIC EGGS IN WORKERS OF NEOPONERA-VILLOSA ANTS (HYMENOPTERA, PONERINAE)

Scanning electron microscopy has confirmed the presence of two types o f eggs in Neoponera villosa workers : (a) eggs with normal oogenesis, vitellogenesis and chorion deposition and (b) eggs with an abnormal ap pearance in which vitellogenesis was probably interrupted and chorion deposition did not occur. Abnormal oocytes were detected in workers ag ed 25, 30 and 40 days. Histologically, these eggs are highly vacuolate d, with vacuoles irregularly distributed throughout the cytoplasm and vitellus of disorganized appearance. Transmission electron microscopy permitted to observe a large amounts of lipids in abnormal oocytes, as well as large electron dense bodies. The presence of a corpus luteum was observed in only one worker suggesting that the abnormal eggs may probably go through a partial resorption process, being then ovoposite d and utilized as food by the colony, thus corresponding to the trophi c eggs produced by workers in this species.