Anatomical and Histological Descriptions of the Male Reproductive System of the Alfalfa Weevil of Hypera postica (Gyllenhal, 1813) (Coleoptera: Curc

ABSTRACT

Features of the reproductive organs, such as the number of testicular follicles, testis colour and the morphology of the glands, can be used as systematic characters. For this purpose, this paper was the first description of the male reproductive system anatomy and histology of Hypera postica (Gyllenhal, 1813) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a harmful pest in alfalfa, using stereo, light and scanning electron microscopy. Results show that the male reproductive system consists of two testes, seminal vesicles, vasa deferentia , accessory glands, prostate glands, a ejaculatory duct and an aedeagus. Each testis contains about 12 testicular follicles, each containing four germ cell types: spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa. The testis opens into the vas deferens via the seminal vesicle. They are lined by a single layer of cylindrical epithelium containing mature sperm in the lumen. H. postica has two distinct pairs of glands: tubular accessory glands, surrounded by cylindrical epithelium with eosinophilic secretions and multi‐lobed prostate glands, lined with cuboidal epithelium containing basophilic secretions. These findings not only provide a foundation for understanding the anatomy and histology of the male reproductive system of H. postica , but also offer insights into the evolutionary adaptations of Coleoptera, contributing to broader entomological and ecological studies.