Virus-Like and Membrane-Bound Particles in the Venom Apparatus of a Parasitoid Wasp (Hymenoptera:Braconidae)
Successful parasitism of a host by a parasitoid wasp may be aided by secretions from the venom apparatus, an accessory gland of the female parasitoid's reproductive system. In the present study, transmission electron microscopy of the venom apparatus of Meteorus leviventris reveals virus-like and membrane-bound particles which may influence successful parasitism of the host. This is the first evidence of such particles within the venom apparatus of a parasitoid.The venom apparatus of M. leviventris consists of a venom reservoir with two highly ramified gland filaments attached to it by a common duct.TEM of the secretory cells of the gland filaments reveals particles approximately 50 nm in diameter contained within a cytoplasmic stroma (Fig. 1). These virus-like particles (VLP) have a dense inner core and a hexagonal congifuration. Similar particles are found free within the cytoplasm or associated with vacuoles (Fig. 2).Secretory cells of the gland filaments contain a secretory apparatus which consists of an array of microvilli converging on a central lumen (Fig. 3).