The internal sac of aedeagus of longhorned beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): morphology, nomenclature of structures, taxonomic significance
Until recently, the internal sac of the aedeagus (endophallus) of the beetle family Cerambycidae remained practically not investigated. To a large degree such situation is connected with the long term absence of techniques for making dry volumetric preparations for the everted internal sac, whi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Russian |
| Published: |
Russian Academy of Science. Southern Scientific Centre. Federal Research Centre
2006-07-01
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| Series: | Кавказский энтомологический бюллетень |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ssc-ras.ru/ckfinder/userfiles/files/13_DG%20Kasatkin(1).pdf |
| Summary: | Until recently, the internal sac of the
aedeagus (endophallus) of the beetle family Cerambycidae
remained practically not investigated. To a large degree
such situation is connected with the long term absence of
techniques for making dry volumetric preparations for
the everted internal sac, which would be adapted to the
specific needs of the taxonomic investigation of the family.
Such technique has been described only recently and is
considered in details in this work.
Representatives from 8 subfamilies (more than 100
genera) of Cerambycidae and some species of the families
Distenidae and Vesperidae have been investigated. On
the basis of the investigated material, the general plan
of the structure of endophallus of longhorned beetles is
established and the respective nomenclature for its main
structures is given.
The endophallus is divided into three anatomical
parts (phallomeres): basal, medial, and apical. Limits
of the phallomeres are established based on structures
homologous at the majority of representatives of the family,
and thus considered as markers.
Prominent membranous structures of the endophallus
are designated according to their position concerning
the main axis of the latter, namely they are designated as
ventral, dorsal, and lateral. The following types of convex
membranous structures are distinguished: chambers,
tubercles, swellings, blades and appendix. Among sclerites
the following structures are distinguished: plates, spines,
spicules, riffling and flagellum. In addition to the listed
structures, membranous structures and sclerites which are
less common, i.e. specific to particular smaller group can be
encountered. The system of designations of such structures
may be also more specific.
Morphology of the phallomeres and the most
common structures is described. Their distribution across
taxa is considered. Special attention is given to BLV
sclerites characteristic to the majority of representatives of
the family and always (with rare exception) having the same
morphological plan.
The most typical morphological features of
endophallus are provided for the studied subfamilies |
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| ISSN: | 1814-3326 1814-3326 |