Anatomical diversity of the spermatheca detected in some Paederinae (Coleoptera Staphylinidae)

Abstract

Although they are included into a single tribe (Paederini), the 9 examined species exhibit three different types of spermatheca, and one of them lacks this organ. Spermathecae of the third-type were found in Astenus melanurus, Lithocharis tricolor, Luzea nigritula, Pseudolathra lusitanica, Rugilus orbiculatus and Scopaeus mitratus; they look well adapted for sperm admittance, as they include both an inflatable receptacle and a duct pumping device; on the contrary, they don't exhibit any evident adaptation for releasing spermatozoa, which seem to be definitively segregated in the receptacle. Previously, author speculated on a similar difficulty of sperm releasing when studying the spermatheca in the subf. Aleocharinae.