SPERMATOPHORE FORMATION AND REGULATION OF EGG MATURATION AND OVIPOSITION IN FEMALE HELIOTHIS-VIRESCENS BY THE MALE

This study was undertaken, using various surgical manipulations, to ex amine the role and functions of accessory sex glands and testes in Hel iothis virescens in spermatophore formation and stimulation of egg mat uration in mated females. Normal females mated to accessory sex glande ctomized (- ASG) males produced fewer eggs and retained most of their eggs in ovarioles compared with females mated to sham-operated (+ ASG) or normal males. The ASG are the source of the components for spermat ophore formation in H. virescens. Females mated to castrated (- Testes ) males showed similar pattern of egg production as did females mated to - ASG males. Females mated to - Testes males and those mated to sha m-operated (+ Testes) or normal males were found to have spermatophore in the bursa after uncoupling. Normal females mated to allatectomized (- CA) males developed similar numbers of total eggs as did females m ated to sham-operated (+ CA) males and normal males. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.