Morphology of the internal reproductive system of the male and female two-spotted stink bug, Perillus bioculatus (F.) (Heteroptera : Pentatomidae) and the transfer of products during mating

The reproductive systems of male and female Perillus bioculatus are typical for the Pentatomidae. A detailed examination of the spermatheca revealed t hat the duct assembly acts as a valve. When the valve is open, male secreti ons pass into the spermathecal pouch, but in the closed position sperm pass through the spermathecal duct extension and enter the spermathecal bulb. M ales have a composite ejaculatory bulb that is composed of dorsal and ventr al units. The dorsal ejaculatory bulb is formed by tissues that are continu ous with the walls of the outer ejaculatory duct. Extensions from the dorsa l bulb form the medial and lateral ejaculatory pouches. Ectadenia open into the dorsal bulb and their secretions fill the ejaculatory pouches which in crease in volume from 3.5 days post-emergence as the male matures. The vent ral ejaculatory bulb is muscular and receives the seminal vesicles. Mesaden ia open into the seminal vesicles and their secretions, along with sperm, p ass through the ventral ejaculatory bulb. The ejaculatory duct consists of outer and inner units. The outer unit is a continuation of the dorsal ejacu latory bulb while the inner unit is a continuation of the ventral ejaculato ry bulb. During mating, the male genitalia clasp a tubercle on the vaginal genital plate that contains the opening of the spermathecal duct and materi als from the male are introduced directly into the spermathecal duct. Withi n 1.5 h of mating, male ejaculatory pouch volume decreased 86%, but were co mpletely recharged within 24 h of the completion of mating. Spermathecal po uch volume increased more than twofold after mating for 0.5 h. Three solubl e glycoproteins, p1, p2, and p3, with molecular masses of 101.9, 86.3, and 72.8 kDa, respectively, were stored in the ejaculatory pouches and transfer red to the female spermathecal pouch during mating.