Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ACTA ZOOLOGICA, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Nepa cinerea is an aquatic predatory insect that plays a key role in the biological control of mosquito populations. This study investigates the morphological structure of the adult female reproductive system using stereomicroscopy, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The reproductive system comprises two ovaries, lateral oviducts, a common oviduct, a spermatheca, and a genital chamber. Each ovary contains five telotrophic meroistic ovarioles, which are divided into four regions: a terminal filament, a germarium with trophocytes and early-stage oocytes, a vitellarium containing previtellogenic, vitellogenic, and choriogenic oocytes, and a long pedicel. Choriogenic oocytes display distinct endochorion and exochorion layers. Each pedicel contains 2-3 pale yellow, oval eggs with brown respiratory horns. Pedicels connect to the common oviduct via the lateral oviducts. The spermatheca, composed of a distal reservoir and a proximal duct, also opens into the common oviduct. The reservoir is cuticle-lined and surrounded by longitudinal muscles and glandular cells. Features such as ovariole number and the presence of respiratory horns differ among aquatic heteropterans. These findings offer valuable insights into the comparative morphology of female reproductive systems in aquatic Heteroptera.