Abstract
The spermathecae and egg morphology of Stenozygum coloratum (Klug, 1845) were examined with light and scanning electron microscopy, and their external morphology was characterized in detail (egg chorion surface, operculum, and aero-micropylar processes, and spermatheca morphology). Eggs barrel-shaped; operculum round and the hatching line can be easily distinguished in the scanning electron photograph. The egg batches usually consist of 12 eggs. Because of the thick egg chorion, embrionic development was not visible from the outside. The eggs of S. coloratum are usually laid in two rows and are glued to the Capparis spinosa (Capparacea) plants. The egg burster is highly sclerotized, thick and T shaped. It is clearly observed in the hatched egg. Egg-burster is remains attached with the inside lateral surface of the egg. The well-marked operculum intersects the ring of 18–20 short pipe shaped micropylar projections that are found between the tubercles around the hatching line. In S. coloratum, the spermathecae has a semi-oblong spermathecal bulb. The spermathecal duct, pumping region, dilation of spermathecal duct and distal and proximal ducts. The pumping region has distal and proximal flanges. The balloon-like median spermathecal dilation has sclerotized rod and is narrowed distally and tipped. The proximal area of the spermathecal duct is close to the vagina opening. Two V-shaped sclerites and two ring sclerites are localized on the genital chamber (vagina) wall in to which opens the spermathecae. Egg and spermathecae structures in insects differ from species to species. In this study, spermathecae and egg structures of this species, which have not been studied before, were examined in detail, and it was aimed to contribute to systematic and taxonomic studies.
Highlights
Stenozygum coloratum (Klug, 1845), which is called the variegated caper bug, is common in the Eastern Mediterranean region
The barrel shaped Stenozygum coloratum eggs are usually deposited in 2 rows and are glued to host plants (Capparis spinosa in the field)
The main characters of the microsculpture of the chorion, color, operculum, egg burster and the number of micropylar processes are of great systematic value at generic and family level (Puchkova, 1959, 1961; Cobben, 1968; Hinton, 1981; Javahery, 1994)
Summary
Stenozygum coloratum (Klug, 1845), which is called the variegated caper bug, is common in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The surface pattern and shape of insect eggs, are taxonomic characters which are useful in identification of species. The taxonomic and phylogenetic significance of eggshell structure has been demonstrated at different levels in different orders (Hinton, 1981; Salkeld, 1983; Margaritis, 1985). The color, size and shape of the eggs and the number, size and shape of the micropylar processes of Pentatomidae family can be distinguished and constitute significant characters for the identification of species and genera (Esselbaugh, 1946; Hinton, 1981; Izhar et al, 1990; Bundy and McPherson, 2000; Candan et al, 2001). In this study, the egg and spermathecae structure of S. coloratum was examined in detail and compared with other Heteroptera species
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