KSU TARIM VE DOGA DERGISI-KSU JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURE, vol.24, no.6, pp.1290-1299, 2021 (ESCI)
The spermathecae and egg morphology of Stenozygum coloratum (Klug, 1845) were examined with light and scanning electron microscopy, and their external morphology was characterized in detail (egg chorion surface, operculum, and aero-micropylar processes, and spermathecae morphology). Eggs are barrel-shaped; operculum is round and the hatching line can be easily distinguished in the scanning electron photograph. The egg batches usually consist of 12 eggs. Because of the thick egg chorion, embrionic development was not visible from the outside. The eggs of S. coloratum are usually laid in two rows and are glued to the Capparis spinosa (Capparacea) plants. The egg burster is highly sclerotized, thick and T shaped. It is clearly observed in the hatched egg. Egg-burster is remains attached with the inside lateral surface of the egg. The well-marked operculum intersects the ring of 18-20 short pipe shaped micropylar projections that are found between the tubercles around the hatching line. In S. coloratum, the spermathecae has a semi-oblong spermathecal bulb, a pumping region, intermediate flanges, a dilation of spermathecal duct and distal and proximal ducts. The pumping region has distal and proximal flanges. The balloon-like median spermathecal dilation has sclerotized rod and is narrowed distally and tipped. The proximal area of the spermathecal duct is close to the vagina opening. Two V-shaped sclerites and two ring sclerites are localized on the genital chamber (vagina) wall in to which opens the spermathecae. Egg and spermathecae structures in insects differ from species to species. In this study, spermateca and egg structures of this species, which have not been studied before, were examined in detail, and it was aimed to contribute to systematic and taxonomic studies.