Anatomy of male and female reproductive organs of stink bugs pests (Pentatomidae: Heteroptera) from soybean and rice crops

Abstract

Pentatomidae comprises a diverse group of stink bugs widely distributed in the Neotropical region. Many species are phytophagous and cause injuries to plants, and can thus be defined as agricultural pests. In this study, the anatomy of the female and male reproductive tracts of three important agricultural pests in Colombia is described: Piezodorus guildinii Westwood, 1837 and Chinavia ubicaRolston 1983, found on soybeans, and Oebalus insularis Stål, 1872, found in rice crops. For that, light microscopy techniques were used. The anatomy of the reproductive tract of sexually mature males of the three species studied consisted of a pair of testes, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory bulb, an ejaculatory duct that opens into an aedeagus, and paired accessory glands. The reproductive tract of females consisted of a pair of ovaries, each with seven telotrophic-meroistic ovarioles, a pair of lateral oviducts, common oviduct, spermatheca, and a genital chamber. Telotrophic ovarioles were comprised of terminal filament, tropharium, vitellarium, and pedicel. Differences in size, color, and position of structures along the reproductive tract were observed between the species examined. Reproductive biology of insects provides informative characters for behavioral and evolutionary studies, as well as useful data for pest control strategies.

Morphology of the male reproductive system and sperm of Leptoglossus zonatus (Dallas, 1852) (Heteroptera: Coreidae)

“…It can exhibit a significant color variation, such as orange, yellow, blue, green, and intense red, as in the species of this study. Araújo et al (2020) suggest that the color of this pigmentation can be influenced by the individual's diet or metabolism.…”

Anatomy and histology of the male reproductive tract in creeping water bugs (Heteroptera: Naucoridae)

“…In Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Aphelocheiridae), there are four follicles per testis (Papáček and Soldán, 2008), and in Gelastocoris angulatus (Gelastocoridae), Rheumatobates crassifemur (Gerridae), Martarega membranacea, and M. brasiliensis (Notonectidae), there are two follicles (Pereira et al, 2015). Terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and aquatic species differ in follicle number, but it has not yet been possible to establish evolutionary hypotheses for these traits (Araújo et al, 2020a(Araújo et al, , 2020bPereira et al, 2015), necessitating studies on a greater number of species to validate possible apomorphies in clades. Testicular follicles are filled with cysts at different stages of spermatogenesis have been suggested as evidence of continuous gamete production in adulthood, which can be a possible adaptation for multiple mates (Buschini, 2007;Moreira et al, 2008).…”

Morphology of the male reproductive tract in the water scavenger beetle Tropisternus collaris Fabricius, 1775 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae)

“…Although those studies provide good data about the structure and function of some organs, there are few comparative data from reproductive tract, which might reveal differences between groups, such as presence/absence of structures and shape variations in reproductive organs and spermatozoa (Araújo et al, 2012(Araújo et al, , 2020(Araújo et al, , 2021Paoli et al, 2014;Munhoz et al, 2020;Nasserzadeh, 2020). This study aimed to describe the anatomy and histology of the male reproductive system in the hydrophilid Tropisternus collaris Fabricius, 1775, in order to contribute to the knowledge of reproductive biology and evolutionary history of the Coleoptera.…”