Anatomy of male and female reproductive organs of stink bugs pests (Pentatomidae: Heteroptera) from soybean and rice crops

Abstract: Pentatomidae comprises a diverse group of stink bugs widely distributed in the Neotropical region. Many species are phytophagous and cause injuries to plants, and can thus be defined as agricultural pests. In this study, the anatomy of the female and male reproductive tracts of three important agricultural pests in Colombia is described: Piezodorus guildinii Westwood, 1837 and Chinavia ubicaRolston 1983, found on soybeans, and Oebalus insularis Stål, 1872, found in rice crops. For that, light microscopy techniques were used. The anatomy of the reproductive tract of sexually mature males of the three species studied consisted of a pair of testes, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory bulb, an ejaculatory duct that opens into an aedeagus, and paired accessory glands. The reproductive tract of females consisted of a pair of ovaries, each with seven telotrophic-meroistic ovarioles, a pair of lateral oviducts, common oviduct, spermatheca, and a genital chamber. Telotrophic ovarioles were comprised of terminal filament, tropharium, vitellarium, and pedicel. Differences in size, color, and position of structures along the reproductive tract were observed between the species examined. Reproductive biology of insects provides informative characters for behavioral and evolutionary studies, as well as useful data for pest control strategies.