The anatomy of fertilization in the yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria

Journal of Morphology
B I ArthurPaul I Ward

Abstract

Female yellow dung flies, Scathophaga stercoraria, can influence the traffic of sperm stored in their spermathecae to the site of fertilization in the bursa copulatrix. However, the anatomical mechanisms employed are largely unknown. We investigated the anatomy of the female genital tract, seeking structures involved in sperm transfer and egg fertilization. We found a membranous structure descending from the ends of the spermathecal and accessory gland ducts into the bursa copulatrix. We call this the prolatus. Sperm accumulate in the prolatus during oviposition. When an egg is in the bursa the egg micropyle, rather than being aligned towards the dorsal openings of the spermathecal ducts, lies on the opposite, ventral side. We also confirm the presence, and suggest a function for, a cuticularized pouch on the ventral wall of the anterior bursa copulatrix. This pouch, plus a previously undescribed chamber, may be homologous to the ventral receptacle/fertilization chamber found in other dipterans. Further, we describe a translucent cap, apparently transversed by channels, covering the micropyle. Sperm were observed to aggregate on and in the micropyle cap, which appears to attract and hold sperm. We interpret the prolatus as a st...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1965·Journal of Morphology·J C Jones, R E Wheeler
Dec 7, 2000·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·P I Ward
May 29, 2003·Journal of Insect Physiology·G BernasconiP I. Ward
May 29, 2003·Journal of Insect Physiology·D J. Hosken, P I. Ward
Jun 1, 2005·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Gerald S WilkinsonPhilip M Johns

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Citations

Mar 1, 2010·Molecular Ecology Resources·L F BussièreP I Ward
Jul 24, 2010·Journal of Insect Physiology·Diana Pérez-StaplesPhillip W Taylor
May 7, 2011·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·K ThülerW U Blanckenhorn
Jan 11, 2013·Biology of Reproduction·Ryuzo YanagimachiKenneth Kaneshiro

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