Fig. 2 in Morphology of the ovary and spermatheca of the leafcutter ant Acromyrmex rugosus queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Fig. 2. Light micrographs of an Acromyrmex rugosus ovariole. (A) Terminal filament (Tf) and germarium (Ge). Scale bar: 30 μm. (B) The vitellarium region with the egg chamber (Oc) and nurse chamber (Nc) at various stages of development, covered by follicular cells (Fc). Scale bar: 30 μm. (C) A follicle at the early stage of development with a small egg chamber (Oc) enveloped by cuboidal follicular cells (Fc) and a well-developed nurse chamber (Nc). N, nurse cell nucleus. Scale bar: 20 μm. (D) Flat follicular cells (Fc) covering the nurse chamber (Nc). Scale bar: 20 μm. (E) A follicle with an oocyte (Oc) with multiple accessory nuclei (black arrowhead). A disruption in the follicular epithelium that allows communication between the egg and nurse chambers (black arrow). Scale bar: 20 μm. (F) Oocytes (Oc) in the late maturation stages with a large number of yolk granules in the cytoplasm (black arrow), enveloped by cuboidal follicular (Fc) cells. The nurse chamber (Nc) is smaller than the egg chamber (Oc). Scale bar: 30 μm. (G) Cuboidal follicular epithelium (Fc) covering the oocyte (Oc). Scale bar: 20 μm. (H) A follicle at the final stage of development with degenerating nurse cells (Nc). Yolk granules in the ooplasm (black arrow). Oc, oocyte; Fc, follicular cells. Scale bar: 10 µm.