Morphology, Histology and Ovary Development of the Female Reproductive System ofSpilostethus pandurus(Scopoli) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Abstract

The morphology and histology of the female reproductive system of Spilostethus pandurus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The female has a pair of ovaries, each with seven meroistic telotrophic ovarioles, a pair of lateral oviducts, acommonoviduct, a spermatheca, and a genital chamber.Accessory gland was not visible. Each ovariole is composed of four main regions: 1) the thread-like terminal filament, 2) the germarium, a chamber housing anteriorly the nurse cells and posteriorly the young oocytes, 3) a long vitellarium composed of a series of oocytes, which become progressively large toward the posterior end, and 4) the pedicel (ovariolar stalk) in which the mature eggs are lodged before passing into the lateral oviduct. Morphological changes of the ovary were examined by light microscopy.