THE SYNAPTONEMAL COMPLEX COMPLEMENT OF THE WAX MOTH, GALLERIA-MELLONELLA

Synaptonemal complexes (SCs) of pachytene bivalents from oocytes and spermatocytes of the wax moth, Galleria mellonella, were studied with a microspreading technique. In both sexes 30 bivalents were found. Male SCs in contrast to female SCs contained recombination nodules. No specific bivalent could be recognized in male complements. In female complements, the WZ bivalent was recognized among the three longest bivalents by its delayed pairing and/or unequal lengths of the lateral elements. Pairing of WZ bivalents is complete and lateral elements arc nearly equalized in a few cells, presumably at the end of pachytene.