Implications of oöcyte resorption bodies in the ovarioles of Argentine stem weevil,Listronotus bonariensis(Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

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Abstract
Yellow-orange inclusions were occasionally found in the ovariolar constrictions of Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel). Investigation established that they were probably crystals of β-carotene, for which a liquid precursor was present in very high concentrations. Such inclusions are often found in the ovarioles of acridids, and can arise from the resorption of terminal oöcytes. Caging, which suppresses egg production, increased the proportion of weevils with resorption crystals. In a naturally occurring reproductive population the crystals became prevalent at the onset of diapause, and were demonstrable in 30% of the total population throughout the winter. The incidence of crystals indicates that the female population was of mixed sexual maturity, which may have been due to differences in age. Almost invariably only fertilised females contained resorption crystals, indicating that advanced vitellogenesis and egg production take place after mating rather than before.