Histology of the spermateca and stored sperm of Tenuisvalvae notata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

The predatory ladybird beetle Tenuisvalvae notata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) (Mulsant) is a polygamous species and its morphology, as well as the storage capacity of seminal fluid in the spermatheca, may affect its reproductive performance. Thus, the present study evaluates the spermatheca morphology of virgin and mated T. notata females using light and scanning microscopy. The results show that the spermatheca of T. notata is kidney shaped and consists only of the receptacle and spermathecal duct, being morphologically similar in virgin and mated females. There is no secretion in the spermathecae of virgin females and, in mated females, only once it was not possible to observe the presence of spermatozoa. By contrast, females mate multiple times it is possible to observe spermatozoa in the lumen of the spermatheca surrounding the secreted material. Polygamy in T. notata might be related to the maintenance of viable spermatozoa in the spermatheca, in which case the female would prefer to copulate more times during its adult life than to store spermatozoa for a longer period of time.

Morphology of the reproductive tract of females of leaf beetle Chrysomela populi (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera)

“…In C. populi, there is a single spermatheca, which consists of a relative reservoir, a duct and a gland. Similar structure is seen other coleopteran family as in E. connexa (Coccinellidae) and Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant, 1850) (Coccinellidae) (Maffei et al 2001;Túler et al 2018).…”

“…Chrysomela populi L., 1758, a member of the Chrysomelidae, has a very widespread distribution from Europe to Asia and is known as the most abundant and important species that harms Populus and Salix (Urban 2006). There are many records that C. populi is particularly harmful to poplars (Kasap 1988;Zeki and Toros 1996;Aslan and Özbek 1999;Thakur 1999;Georgiev 2000;Urban 2006;Tillesse et al 2007). Various control strategies have been tried to combat this pest and one of these strategies is chemical control (Cavalcaselle 1972;Khan and Ahmad 1991;Tillesse et al 2007).…”

“…There are many records that C. populi is particularly harmful to poplars (Kasap 1988;Zeki and Toros 1996;Aslan and Özbek 1999;Thakur 1999;Georgiev 2000;Urban 2006;Tillesse et al 2007). Various control strategies have been tried to combat this pest and one of these strategies is chemical control (Cavalcaselle 1972;Khan and Ahmad 1991;Tillesse et al 2007). However, when using chemical control method for poplar pests, their reproductive structures should also be taken into account.…”

“…The spermatecal reservoir is connected to the genital chamber by a ductus seminalis through which sperm is discharged. There can also be special glandular cells associated with the reservoir that produce secretions that maintain vitality (Maffei et al 2001;Marzo 2008;Klowden 2009;Túler et al 2018). Spermathecae store sperm for various periods of time and can control sperm utilization along with parts of the oviduct.…”

Structural and ultrastructural characters of the reproductive tract in females of the mint leaf beetle Chrysolina herbacea (Duftschmid 1825) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

“…The parts that consisting the spermathecae show similarities and differences in the different genus. In C. herbacea , there is a single spermathecae, which consists of a relatively reservoir for sperm storage and a short spermathecae duct, like in E. connexa ( Eriopis , Coccinellidae) and Tenuisvalvae notata (Mulsant) ( Tenuisvalvae , Coccinellidae) (Maffei et al, 2001; Túler et al., 2018). In addition, the spermathecae in Atomaria analis (Stephens) ( Atomaria , Cryptophagidae) has the reservoir and a gland; in Capnodis tenebrionis (Linnaeus) ( Capnodis , Buprestidae), there is only the reservoir; there is only the gland in Lacon punctatus (Herbst) ( Lacon , Elateridae) (Marzo, 2008).…”