Morphology of the male and female reproductive tracts of virgin and mated Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Abstract

Predatory insects have reproductive organs rich in complex changes that may be responsible for the success of their population growth. The species Chrysoperla externa is a predator used in biological control programs in Latin America. However, there is no morphological data about the morphology of the reproductive tract in this insect. This study describes the morphology of the reproductive organs of virgin and mated C. externa male and female. The male has a pair of testes yellow in color and five pairs of accessory glands closely associated with the seminal vesicles. The testis follicles are twisted filled with cysts in different developmental stages. The pair of ovaries in the females shows asymmetry with 9–11 ovarioles per ovary with oocytes in different developmental stages and a spherical spermatheca. Virgin and mated males have no differences in the size of the testes, seminal vesicle, and accessory glands. C. externa females show morphological changes in the reproductive tract according to sexual maturation, which is triggered by mating. The ovary activation occurs after female mating. The ovaries are of merotistic polytrophic type. The spermathecal reservoir is lined by a flattened epithelium with a thin cuticular intima and associated with well‐developed muscles. It is concluded that the reproductive tract of C. externa is similar in virgin and mated males and females. Egg production is activated only after mating and the development of reproductive tract structures is faster in mated females.

Effect of Duration of Exposure to Males on Female Reproductive Performance of the Green Lacewing, Chrysoperla agilis (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

“…In chrysopids, physiological sexual maturation is triggered by mating, which acts by further stimulating oviposition [ 22 , 23 ]. Nevertheless, egg laying by virgin females is not uncommon and, although relatively weak, it has been reported for various chrysopids such as Chrysopa oculata , Chrysopa perla , and C. carnea [ 22 ].…”

Study on the interference of DicdsVg4 and DicdsVgR in egg formation in the ovary of Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama)

“…For example, interfering with the expression of the Vitellogenin ( Vg ) gene and Vitellogenin receptor ( VgR ) gene can effectively hinder vitellogenin accumulation and mature egg formation in ovaries, which can control pest populations (Ibanez et al, 2017; Peng et al, 2020). At present, various pest ovarian structures have been studied and recorded in detail by anatomical observation and microcomputed tomography (Javier et al, 2019; Ignacio et al, 2019; Attardo et al, 2020; Men et al, 2020; Dantas et al, 2021; Wyber et al, 2021). RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/cas9) based on molecular biology are more advanced genetic engineering technologies that provide novel ideas and means for controlling pest ovarian development (Abdullaha et al, 2019; Chen et al, 2019; Fandino et al, 2019; Hao et al, 2019; Liu et al, 2019; Lin et al, 2019; Lu et al, 2019a; Ortega and Killiny, 2019; Wang et al, 2019; Dias et al, 2020).…”