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SUMMARY
D. Pluot: The spermatheca and the female genital ducts of the Pyrrhocorides (Hemiptera).
In the female Pyrrhocoridae, the ectodermal genital ducts, which are our present investigations, make their development during the nymphal life from two invaginations, medialy situated, one behind the other, on the body-wall. The posterior invagination between the 8th and 9th sternite constitutes the outline of the spermatheca and vagina. In the species provided with a « diverticulum ductus », it appears that it is a basal evagination of the « ductus receptaculi ». The anterior invagination between the 7th and 8th sternite gives birth to the median oviduct and the lower part of the lateral oviducts.
The spermatheca, and specialy its own canal is the only part of the genital system whose shape is subject to great variation in the Family. Its muscular intermediate piece is always supplied with a « septum » and an elastic area unoticed untill now, strengthening the theory of a pump-like working.
In the dorsal coat of the vagina and median oviduct appears an internal « fecundation groove » likely the homologue of the fecundation canal already known in other Hemiptera, particularly the Amphibicorises.
The histological study shows important structural variations according to the physiological state of the female, such as a high secretory activity in many parts of the genital system: the apical cells of the « capsula seminalis », the parietovaginal glands, the diverticulum of the spermatheca, and the epithelium of the commun oviduct. The cyclic activity is independant of copulation and doudtless bound to egg-laying.
The migration of spermatozoons in the genital ducts is examined, as well as the problems bound to it. At least, in D. cingulatus, most, or the whole sperm the male must lay down, is given off during a period between 2 h 30 and 4 h after the beginning of copulation. One can probably explain the persistance of copulation by a stimulating action on the female fecundity.