Abstract
On the ventral tube of males of Onychiuroides granulosus (Stach, 1934) there is a male ventral organ, which consists of two groups of four setae that are thickened, slightly flattened and bent. All setae of the male ventral organ are inserted in a richly sculptured cuticle. At the base of each seta there are a few large cells (basal cells) that have large irregular nuclei that contain a large amount of heterochromatin. In the cytoplasm of the basal cells there are numerous mitochondria, ribosomes and a rich system of endoplasmic reticulum. The plasma membrane of the basal cells forms richly folded, deep invaginations, filled with a dense material, which also occurs in particular setae and on their surface. The present study indicates that the male ventral organ is secretory and does not confirm its previously suggested sensory function.
Highlights
Springtails (Collembola) are the largest of the three lineages of Entognatha, with according to Bellinger et al (2017) about 8600 known species
All Collembola are characterized by the presence of a ventral tube
The ventral tube plays an important role in osmoregulation, but can function as a sticky appendage that enables springtails to adhere to slippery surfaces (Hopkin, 1997)
Summary
Springtails (Collembola) are the largest of the three lineages of Entognatha, with according to Bellinger et al (2017) about 8600 known species They have a very wide global distribution, on every continent, including Antarctica. The main site of water and salt exchange in springtails is the ventral tube (Eisenbeis, 1982) This structure, which is called the “collophore”, consists of eversible sacs and is on the ventral side of the first abdominal segment. On the ventral tube of males of some Collembola there is ventral organ that is covered by a group of thick and sometimes branching setae, which are clearly distinct from the typical setae covering the body of these insects (Stach, 1934; Pomorski, 1997; Deharveng & Bedos, 2002). Only the ventral organ of adult males is considered to be a reliable taxonomic feature
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