Morphology of the spermatheca of several species of Dysmachus (Diptera : Asilidae) from Turkey: A scanning electron microscope study, second part

Abstract

The spermathecae of four species of the asilid genus Dysmachus (D. cephalenus, D. obtusus, D. safranboluticus, and D. tricuspis) were studied with both light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). There are three spermathecae the species examined. The spermatheca consists of receptaculum seminis (reservoir), ductus receptaculum (spermathecal ducts), ejection apparatus, apodemes of furca and furca. Receptaculum seminis of D. cephalenus, D. obtusus, D. safranboluticus and D. tricuspis have a swollen structure at the base but it extends apically like a duct. Sperm is kept in receptaculum seminis. In all species, the spermathecal ducts are covered by chitin layer. Spermathecal ducts are not connected with a common duct, but open separately to the bursa copulatrix. The ejection apparatus controls the passage of spermatozoa. The ejection apparatus are covered by strong muscles that regulate its opening and closing. Furca in D. cephalenus and D. tricuspis divided, with a triangular apodeme, lateral arms broad; Y-shaped in D. obtusus and D. safranboluticus.