FINE-STRUCTURE OF SPERMATHECA AND ACCESSORY-GLAND OF FRANKLINIELLA-OCCIDENTALIS (PERGANDE) (THYSANOPTERA, THRIPIDAE)

The spermatheca of the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera : Thripidae) is a small brownish-orange organ that adheres to the vagi na; the accessory gland is a large structure with an apical bulb and a long duct opening into the vagina separately from the spermatheca. Bo th organs consist of an epithelium with secretory and duct-forming cel ls. A dense secretion fills the apical bulb of the accessory gland. Th e long duct has an epithelium lined by an annular cuticular intima; th e spermatheca has duct-forming cells, unexpectedly rich in inclusions that possibly contain pigment. These cells also form the first short p art of the spermathecal duct, which is continuous with the part formed by a diverticulum of the vaginal epithelium. This epithelium provides anchorage for the muscle fibers controlling the opening of the duct l umen. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.