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Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) is a widespread species in Europe, and also it is localized in some regions in Turkey such as Bursa, Eskişehir, Ankara, Bolu, Düzce, and Çankırı. The features of the reproductive organs such as the numbers and shapes of testes and follicles can be used as taxonomical characters. For this purpose, the ultrastructural and histological features of testis and vas deferens in P. parallelus parallelus were examined with using light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The mature P. parallelus parallelus has two conjugated testes produce spermatozoa. Each testis is composed of numerous testis follicles in which different stages of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis develop. First, spermatocytes are formed by the mitosis division of the germ cells at the distal end of the follicles. Then, spermatocytes form spermatids by meiosis division in the middle region of the follicles. Finally, spermatids are differentiated to spermatozoa at the proximal region of the follicles. After maturation of the spermatozoa, sperm tails come together as the sperm bundles called as spermatodesm. Each follicle is connected to vas deferens via vas efferens to discharging spermatozoa. In spite of some differences, the testes and the vas deferens in P. parallelus parallelus are highly similar to the those of other species, especially Orthopteran species.

The accessory glands of male reproductive system in insects play a significant role in the reproduction process by protecting sperm in spermatheca, preventing female to accept other males after mating and stimulating oviposition. The number, structure, and arrangement of the tubules of accessory glands can change from species to species. In this study, the accessory glands belonging the male reproductive system in Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) were examined with stereomicroscope, light microscope, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopes at Gazi University, Faculty of Science in 2017–2019. P. parallelus parallelus is a widespread species that is located at the extending areas from Italy to the Northern Europe and also in Turkey. The accessory glands of P. parallelus parallelus’ male reproductive system are composed of about 10 tubules. The tubules can be classified into two groups according to the thickness of their muscle tissues. Both groups have single layered epithelial cells with mitochondria, well‐developed endoplasmic reticulum, spherical nucleus with electron dense chromatin, secretory vesicles and multivesicular bodies in their cytoplasm. In addition, apocrine type secretion is seen in epithelial cells.

Highlights• The ultrastructure of the Malpighian tubules (MTs) of Isophya nervosa was examined.• Different shapes of spherocrystals were observed in the MTs cells.• SEM-EDX analysis of the spherocrystals was conducted.• Differences and similarities of the MTs in Isophya nervosa with other species were revealed.

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The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), is a major pest of potato plants worldwide and is notorious for its ability to develop resistance to insecticides. Cry3 toxins synthesized by Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. tenebrionis have been used successfully to manage this pest. Resistance to Cry toxins is a concerning problem for many insect pests; therefore, it is important to determine the mechanisms by which insects acquire resistance to these toxins. Cadherin‐like and ABC transporter proteins have been implicated in the mode of action of Cry toxins as mutations in these genes render lepidopterans resistant to them; however, clear consensus does not exist on whether these proteins also play a role in Cry3 toxin activity and/or development of resistance in coleopterans. In the current study, we identified the L. decemlineata orthologues of the cadherin (LdCAD) and the ABCB transporter (LdABCB1) that have been implicated in the mode of action of Cry toxins in other coleopterans. Suppression of LdABCB1 via RNA interference reduced toxin‐related larval mortality, whereas partial silencing of LdCAD did not. Our results suggest that the ABCB is involved in the mode of action of Cry3Aa toxins; however, no evidence was found to support the role of cadherin as a receptor of Cry3Aa in L. decemlineata.

Since insects belonging to the Acrididae family have different nutritional preferences, and their physical characteristics differ, they pose a problem in classification for taxonomists. In order to remove this confusion, the biology of the species belonging to this family should be well known. Therefore, the morphology and histology of the female reproductive system of Pseudochorthippus parallelus parallelus (Zetterstedt, 1821) (Orthoptera, Acrididae) and histochemical content of the yolk granules accumulating in oocyte cytoplasm have been studied by using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in this paper. The reproductive system of females of this species has five or six ovarioles in each ovary. The histological data revealed that the ovary of P. parallelus parallelus is of panoistic type, with each ovariole divided into a terminal filament, a germarium, a vitellarium, and a pedicel. The histochemical features of the yolk granules which accumulate in the oocyte cytoplasm have been also identified. During the oocyte developmental stage, the accumulation of progressively larger yolk granules has been observed in the ooplasm. Histochemical staining has revealed that these yolk granules are in protein and carbohydrate structures.

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