Sperm transfer mechanism in a ixodid tick Haemaphysalis intermaedia (Acarina : Ixodidae)

Sperm transfer in the ixodid tick Haemaphysalis intermedia is accomplished by means of spermatophores. The spermatophore is pear shaped and the sectio ns of spermatophore reveal that the wall is made of two envelopes, one with in the other. The internal envelope encloses a large space occupied by sper m bundles which are always 3 in numbers. It is found that the external enve lope of the spermatophore contracts and ejects the internal envelope contai ning spermatids into the female genital tract. Later the internal envelope containing spermatids into the female genital tract. Later the internal env elope contracts causing the passage of its contents into the oviduct. The u nstained whole mount of the external envelope and the sections of the sperm atophore walls of both the envelopes show fluorescence property under UV li ght and took up a deep sapphire blue colour with toluidine blue-light green stain at pH 4.7.