The male genital tract and aedeagal components of the Diptera with a discussion of their phylogenetic significance
Sinclair, Bradley J.
Borkent, Art
Wood, D. Monty
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
2007
2007-08-31
150
4
711
742
78Z
174624
[365,576,538,562]
Insecta
Blephariceridae
Animalia
Diptera
11
722
Arthropoda
family
Description ( Fig. 2B) Testis:Each testis is oval and pale ( PhilorusKellogg) or club-shaped, bent and twisted, and darkly pigmented ( Zwick, 1977). Epididymis:Not differentiated. Vas deferens:These ducts are long and slender and extend directly to the sperm pump ( Philorus) or are non-existent when the testis is rather elongate and empties directly into the sperm pump ( Zwick, 1977). Accessory gland and seminal vesicle:There are one to two pairs of pale glands, which empty separately at the base of the elongate testes ( Zwick, 1977). The contents and function of these glands are unknown. No glands were observed in Philorus. Ejaculatory duct:The ducts exiting the testis remain completely separate for their entire length and empty separately and directly into the sperm pump ( Zwick, 1977; Sinclair, 2000: fig. 1). There appears to be no distinction between the vas deferens and the ejaculatory duct. Ejaculatory apodeme, sperm pump, and aedeagus:The base of the aedeagus bears an enlarged ejaculatory apodeme, which compresses the sperm pump ( Sinclair, 2000). The aedeagus in Blephariceridaeis divided posteriorly into three narrow forks, with each narrow tube opening independently ( Fig. 2B). Remark:The male genital tract of this family was studied by Zwick (1977).