Some anatomical peculiarities of ovaries detected in Bebelothrips latus Buffa (Thysanoptera Urothripidae)

Abstract

Data arose from dissecting females of 15 species of Tubulifera from southern Italy. Observations on B. latus were replicated on some 30 individuals collected from May to July. Ovaries of B. latus do profoundly differ from those of other Tubulifera, as
each of them includes a single ovariole. Moreover, this is monofollicular and exhibits a 3-divided germarium. This type of ovaries seems outermost adapted to produce one large egg at a time. Anyhow, although the same behaviour in egg production
has been observed in other 3 species of small tubuliferan (Allothrips pillichellus, Haplothrips mateolanus, Pseudocryptothrips meridionalis), the latter don't exhibit any ovarian peculiarity.