Structure of female genitalia in the Korean wood‐feeding cockroach, cryptocercus kyebangensis

Abstract

Female genital morphology of Cryptocercus kyebangensis is described, focusing on the structural features of ovipositors at each developmental stage. Ovipositor valves were the first genital structures to appear in female nymphs. The caudal margin of the 9th sternum was nearly straight in the 1st instars of both sexes, with a slight median notch, but was deeply concave in the female nymphs of the 2nd instar. The 1st valve of ovipositor budded off from membranous fold between the 8th and 9th sternum and a pair of the 2nd valve came from the 9th sternum. Separation of styli occurred in the female nymphs of the 8th or 9th instar. Some parts of the female genitalia were sclerotized after the final molt. Spermathecae were the fork type and leaned a little to the right in the middle line of the genital chamber from ventro‐posterior view. The trace sealed with sclerite materials existed on the spermathecal opening. The genital segments (segments VIII, IX, and X) were concealed completely by the 7th tergum and sternum posteriorly expanded. Terminal lobes which exist in the Blattidae were not observed in C. kyebangensis. Instead, the apicolateral emargination existed on the terminal abdominal segment of C. kyebangensis females.

Key words:

• Cryptocercus kyebangensis
• Female genitalia
• Ovipositor
• Spermatheca
• Wood‐feeding cockroach

Notes

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