SEXUAL DIMORPHISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL-CHANGE OF THE SALIVARY-GLANDS IN ADULT CULICOIDES-VARIIPENNIS (DIPTERA, CERATOPOGONIDAE)

Salivary glands of adult male and female Culicoides variipennis (Coqui llett) were sexually dimorphic when examined by phase contrast light m icroscopy. Female salivary glands were larger and more complex than th ose in males. Each female gland consisted of a main gland, which was s ubdivided into a proximal neck and a distal body with reference to the salivary duct, and four accessory glands. Each male salivary gland co nsisted of a pear-shaped body with a constriction, or neck, that divid ed it into a proximal and a distal portion, with reference to the sali vary duct. Salivary glands of both sexes increased in length from emer gence to day 3, followed by a sex-specific pattern of decrease. Based on these morphological observations, we suggest that the salivary glan ds of female C. variipennis are specialized in the production of secre tory materials for bloodfeeding.