Sex determination and gynandromoph production in aberrant and normal strains of Ooencyrtus submetallicus (Hymenopter: Encyridae).

Abstract

An aberrant strain of Ooencyrtus submetallicus, which produced male, female, and gynandromorphic progeny at constant temperatures, at which the normal strain produced almost entirely female progeny, was obtained, apparently by genetic change, from a culture of the normal strain. The normal strain possesses a temperature-sensitive mechanism that controls the cytological processes underlying sex determination, so that temperature determines whether progeny are male, female, or gynandromorphic. This mechanism has been disrupted in the aberrant strain. Sex determination and gynandromorph production in 0. submetallicus and the Hymenoptera generally are discussed.