Morphology of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål, 1854) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) with evidence of a spermatostyle in the sperm conjugation

Proteomic diversification of spermatostyles among six species of whirligig beetles

“…The remarkable structural and biochemical diversification of ejaculates is almost certainly attributable to the diversity of postcopulatory roles they contribute to in the FRT ( Dorus et al 2004 ; Higginson et al, 2012b ; McCullough et al, 2022 ; Pitnick, Hosken, et al, 2009 ; Pitnick et al, 2020 ; Ravi Ram & Wolfner, 2007 ). In this study, we characterized the proteomic composition and evolution of spermatostyles, which to date have received little attention beyond morphological examination ( Breland & Simmons, 1970 ; Chawanji et al, 2005 , 2006 ; Chevaillier, 1963 ; Chevaillier & Maillet, 1965 ; Dallai et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Folliot & Maillet, 1970 ; Giglio et al, 2024 ; Gómez & Maddison, 2020 ; Hayashi & Kamimura, 2002a , 2002b ; Maillet, 1959 ; Mercati et al, 2023 ; Roberston & Gibbs, 1937 ; Salazar et al, 2022 , 2023 ; Sodré et al, 2024 ). Although functional data are generally lacking, it has been assumed that the adaptive value of spermatostyles is the facilitation of cooperative sperm migration through the FRT ( Higginson & Pitnick, 2011 ; Immler, 2008 ; Pizzari & Foster, 2008 ).…”

“…whirligig beetles, although the structures were first described by Gilson (1884) in an investigation of ground beetles (where they were incorrectly referred to as “spermatophores”). Spermatostyles occur in several families of adephagan beetles (ground beetles, diving beetles, and kin; families Carabidae, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, and Haliplidae; Breland & Simmons, 1970 ; Dallai et al, 2019 , 2020 ; Giglio et al, 2024 ; Gómez & Maddison, 2020 ; Higginson et al, 2015 ; Higginson & Pitnick, 2011 ; Mercati et al, 2023 ; Salazar et al, 2022 , 2023 ) and auchenorrhynch true bugs (cicadas, planthoppers, and spittlebugs; families Aphro-phoridae, Cercopidae, Cicadidae, and Cicadellidae; Chawanji et al, 2005 , 2006 ; Chevaillier, 1963 ; Chevaillier & Maillet, 1965 ; Folliot & Maillet, 1970 ; Hayashi & Kamimura, 2002a , 2002b ; Maillet, 1959 ; Roberston & Gibbs, 1937 ; Sodré et al, 2024 ). Spermatostyles vary in their length, from 17 μm to 4.1 cm, the location, density, and organization of attached sperm, and their ultrastructural appearance (e.g., Giglio et al, 2024 ; Gómez & Maddison, 2020 ; Higginson & Pitnick, 2011 ).…”