Changes in the ovaries during post-embryonic stages in the developement of workers of Apis cerana indica F.

The changes in the developement of ovaries of workers of Apis cerana indica F. were traced in post-embryonie stages. The ovary rudiment occurs in the fifth abdominal segment in the first larval instar. The dorsal and ventral margins of the rudiments are formed of flat epithetial cells. The dorsal and ventral margins of the rudiments are formed of flat epithetial cells. The pyriform appearance of the ovarian rudiment is due to tapering of two layers at both the ends. the structure remains the same in late larval instar but ovaries shift slightly laterally and the oogonial cells lie closely packed. In one-day old pupa. there are five to six ovarioles. Each ovariole has a mass of dividing but undifferentiated cells. the oogonia. Differentiation into oocytes occures in four-day old pupa. The ovaries are of polytrophic type.