The morphology and histology of the male reproductive system in <i>Apodiphus amygdali</i> (Germar, 1817) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

This paper reveals the morphology and histology of the adult male reproductive system in the stink bug, Apodiphus amygdali (Germar, 1817), using light and scanning electron microscopy. Males have a pair of testes situated laterally to the alimentary canal, a pair of elongated cylindrical vasa deferentia and seminal vesicles, which join in a complex bulbus ejaculatorius, a ductus ejaculatorius, a pair of ectodermal sacs, a pair of accessory glands, and the phallus. Each testis consists of seven testicular follicles connected to the vas deferens. Each follicle contains a germarium, followed apically by growth zones where spermatozoa differentiate in the direction of the vasa deferentia. Each testis is connected to the seminal vesicle by a vas deferens. The seminal vesicles are connected to the bulbus ejaculatorius, which is surrounded by the tubularly coiled accessory glands. The bulbus ejaculatorius is continuous with the ductus ejaculatorius and connects to the aedeagus demonstrating its ectodermic origin.