STRUCTURAL-CHANGES OF THE FEMALE GENITAL SYSTEM DURING AND AFTER FEEDING IN HAEMAPHYSALIS-LONGICORNIS (ACARI, IXODIDAE)

Structural changes in the female genital system of Haemaphysalis longi cornis during feeding, copulation and oviposition were observed in tir e light microscope. The genital system consists of the vestibular and cervical vagina, tubular accessory glands, connecting tube, receptacul um seminis, oviduct and ovary. As in Hyalomma, epithelial cells lining the vestibular cuticle become the lobular accessory glands during fee ding, secretions from which coat the surface of passing eggs and may f unction as a waterproofing agent. However, it is clear from these obse rvations that dramatic feeding-related changes occur also in the other organs constituting the system. The cervical vagina and connecting tu be both have a similar structure, their developed muscles being involv ed in transfer of male germ cells and/or eggs. Secretions from the fee ding-stimulated tubular accessory glands may be a coating agent applie d to the egg surface or act as a lubricant for egg passage. Epithelial cells of the receptaculum seminis are probably involved in destructio n of the inserted endospermatophore. In the fed females, just after co pulation the oviducal epithelium produces a secretion, which also may exert some influence upon the passing spermatozoa and eggs. Muscles su rrounding the oviducts cause peristaltic contractions during the passa ge of spermatozoa and eggs. in the developed ovary, the oocyte protrud es into the haemocoel, and is attached to special funicle cells which arise from ovarian epithelium. Numerous spermatozoa present in the ova rian lumen during oviposition imply that fertilization occurs in the o vary.