ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Members of the Hydrophilidae, one of the largest families of aquatic insects, are potential models for the biomonitoring of freshwater habitats and global climate change. In this study, we describe the morphology of the male reproductive tract in the water scavenger beetle Tropisternus collaris. The reproductive tract in sexually mature males comprised a pair of testes, each with at least 30 follicles, vasa efferentia, vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, two pairs of accessory glands (a bean-shaped pair and a tubular pair with a forked end), and an ejaculatory duct. Characters such as the number of testicular follicles and accessory glands, as well as their shape, origin, and type of secretion, differ between Coleoptera taxa and have potential to help elucidate reproductive strategies and the evolutionary history of the group.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT A new species of Thraulodes Ulmer 1920 is described based on nymphs and imagos from Tapias river, Caldas department, Colombia. The mature nymphs were reared until the emergence of the imagos. Thraulodes latinus sp. n. can be distinguished from other species of the genus by: In males, the forewing without cross veins basal to bullae and with 11-14 cross veins distal to bullae, abdominal and legs color pattern, styliger plate redounded, with a long and digitiform median projection and shape of penes with apicolateral area forming an "ear-like" projection. In nymphs, the claws with eight denticles and the general coloration pattern. Additionally, data on the anatomy of the reproductive tract of both the male and female imago of the new species are presented.
ABSTRACT
Abstract: Pentatomidae comprises a diverse group of stink bugs widely distributed in the Neotropical region. Many species are phytophagous and cause injuries to plants, and can thus be defined as agricultural pests. In this study, the anatomy of the female and male reproductive tracts of three important agricultural pests in Colombia is described: Piezodorus guildinii Westwood, 1837 and Chinavia ubicaRolston 1983, found on soybeans, and Oebalus insularis Stål, 1872, found in rice crops. For that, light microscopy techniques were used. The anatomy of the reproductive tract of sexually mature males of the three species studied consisted of a pair of testes, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory bulb, an ejaculatory duct that opens into an aedeagus, and paired accessory glands. The reproductive tract of females consisted of a pair of ovaries, each with seven telotrophic-meroistic ovarioles, a pair of lateral oviducts, common oviduct, spermatheca, and a genital chamber. Telotrophic ovarioles were comprised of terminal filament, tropharium, vitellarium, and pedicel. Differences in size, color, and position of structures along the reproductive tract were observed between the species examined. Reproductive biology of insects provides informative characters for behavioral and evolutionary studies, as well as useful data for pest control strategies.
Resumo: Pentatomidae compreende um diverso grupo de percevejos amplamente distribuídos na região Neotropical. Muitas espécies são fitófagas e causam algum tipo de injúria em plantas, podendo se configurar como pragas agrícolas. Neste trabalho, descrevemos a anatomia do trato reprodutor de machos e fêmeas em três importantes pragas agrícolas da Colômbia: Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood 1837) e Chinavia ubica (Rolston 1983) na cultura de soja e Oebalus insularis (Stål 1872) na cultura do arroz. Para isto, foram utilizadas técnicas de microscopia de luz. A anatomia do trato reprodutor em machos sexualmente maduros nas três espécies consistiu de um par testículos, vasos deferentes, vesículas seminais, bulbo ejaculatório, um ducto ejaculatório que se abre em um aedeagus e glândulas acessórias pareadas. O trato reprodutor das fêmeas consistiu de um par de ovários, cada um com sete ovaríolos telotróficos-meroísticos, um par de ovidutos laterais, uma espermateca e a câmara genital. Os ovaríolos telotróficos possuíam quatro diferentes regiões: filamento terminal, germário, vitelário e pedicelo. As diferenças entre as espécies foram observadas no tamanho, cor e posição das estruturas ao logo do trato reprodutivo. A biologia reprodutiva de insetos gera caracteres que fornecem informações para trabalhos envolvendo evolução, comportamento e estratégias de controle de pragas.
ABSTRACT
The seminal vesicles of mature Scaptotrigona xanthotricha males were investigated using light microscopy, histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. The globular seminal vesicles were ~450 ìm in diameter and consisted of a sperm-filled lumen and a single layer of epithelium surrounded externally by a muscular sheath. The mitochondria-rich epithelial cells had many inclusions in the basal region. These inclusions were relatively large and contained membranous structures similar to myelin figures. The epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle showed none of the features characteristically associated with a secretory function, which suggested that the material in which the spermatozoa were immersed in the vesicle lumen was produced elsewhere along the ducts and/or during sexual maturation of the males. Spermatozoa were occasionally seen inside the inclusions, which suggested a possible spermiophagic activity for this epithelium.
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Epithelial Cells/cytology , Epithelial Cells , Seminal Vesicles/anatomy & histology , Seminal Vesicles/physiology , Myelin Sheath , Bees , Seminal Vesicles/pathology , Reproduction/physiologyABSTRACT
The spermatozoa of Scaptotrigona xanthotricha, a stingless bee under extinction in some Brazilian states, are described. Seminal vesicles of adult males were dissected and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. The spermatozoa were long (about 90 µm) and slender. The head consisted of an acrosome formed by an acrosomal vesicle covering the perforatorium and the nucleus. The latter was homogeneous, compact and about 11 µm long. The flagellum consisted of an axoneme, with the typical 9+9+2 microtubule arrangement that began just below the nuclear base. The two mitochondrial derivatives were asymmetric in length and diameter, and had two accessory bodies. The nucleus was attached to the flagellum by a centriolar adjunct. These results indicate that the spermatozoa of S. xanthotricha are similar to those of other Meliponini but differ markedly from other insect groups. The ultrastructure of hymenopteran spermatozoa may be a useful character for phylogenetic studies.