The insect spermatheca: an overview.

Comparison of spermatheca morphology between reproductive and non-reproductive females in social wasps.

The spermathecae of four species of Eurydema (E. fieberi Schummel 1837, E. oleraceum (Linnaeus 1758), E. ornatum (Linnaeus, 1758), and E. spectabilis Horvath, 1882) were compared using both light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. All the spermathecae which are examined species are contains spermathecal bulb (reservoir), a pumping region, distal and proximal flanges, proximal and distal spermathecal ducts, dilation of spermathecal duct and a genital chamber with two ring sclerites. Spermathecal bulb shape is changed from oval or oblong (E. fieberi) semi –oblong (E. oleraceum, E. ornatum) ,and semi-spherical (E. spectabilis). Distal and proximal flanges of four species of Eurydema have strongly sclerotized and median spermathecal dilations a resemble balloons and sclerotized rods are present. Generally, in all species proximal spermathecal duct is long with muscular surface.

https://www.entomoljournal.com/archives/2014/vol2issue3/PartD/26-740.pdf

Spermathecae morphology in Four Species of Eurydema Laporte, 1833 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) from Turkey: A Scanning Electron Microscope Study

Carpocoris mediterraneus is a polyphagous vegetarian. Adult females of C. mediterraneus were collected in Aksu, Antalya, in June 2018. In this study, the morphological structures of female reproductive system of C. mediterraneus, which has not been studied before, was investigated under light and electron microscopies. The female reproductive system of C. mediterraneus was composed of a pair of ovaries, lateral oviducts, a common oviduct, accessory gland and spermatheca. Each ovary consisted of six telotrophic meroistic type ovarioles. Each ovariole consisted a terminal filament, germarium, vitellarium, and pedicel. In the germarium region, there was a trophic core, trophocytes, young oocytes and prefollicular cells. Vitellarium contained three oocytes at various stages of maturity (previtelogenesis, vitellogenesis, choriogenesis). The ovarioles were connected via pedicels to a pair of short lateral oviducts and subsequently to a common oviduct. The spermatheca of C. mediterraneus consisted a spermathecal bulb, a pumping region, the distal duct, dilation region, proximal duct and genital chamber. The spermathecal bulb was oval in shape and strongly chitinized. Its lumen typically contains a large number of spermatozoa. 

Morphology of the Female Reproductive System in Carpocoris mediterraneus Tamanini, 1958 (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Summary The epithelial cells and their ultrastructural features of the Spermatheca of Ctenolepisma longicaudata have been described. In addition to the epithelial cells, both muscle and cuticular cells are also present in this organ. A variety of secretory vesicles and granules having lysosomal enzymes or mucoproteins is elaborated by the epithelial cells which are subsequently conducted to the apical cytoplasm for discharge in the lumen. Microtubules are involved in the direction of flow of secretory products. Besides, the cuticular and muscle cells of his organ of C. longicaudata make the latter exceedingly complicated for sperm storage, conduction and viability.

Santi G. Pal

Papers

Ultrastructure of spermathecal epithelium of ctenolepisma longicaudata (insecta : thysanura)