The Structure of the Female Genital System of the Diving Beetle (Fabricius, 1787) (Hydroporinae, Dytiscidae), and the Organization of the Spermatheca and the Spermathecal Gland Complex.

The fine structure of the female reproductive organs of the diving beetle has been described, with particular attention to the complex organization of the spermatheca and the spermathecal gland. These organs are fused in a single structure whose epithelium is involved in a quite different activity. The secretory cells of the spermathecal gland have a large extracellular cistern with secretions; duct-forming cells, by their efferent duct, transport the secretions up to the apical cell region where they are discharged into the gland lumen.

Fine structure of the female genital system of diving beetle Stictonectes optatus (Seidlitz, 1887) (Dytiscidae-Hydroporinae) and evidence of mating plug formation.

The general organization of the female genital system of the diving beetle Stictonectes optatus was studied, clarifying the complex structure of the spermatheca and spermathecal gland. The two structures adhere closely to each other, sharing a small area of their cuticular epithelium. A long duct connects the bursa copulatrix to the spermatheca, where the sperm are stored.

The sperm structure of the diving beetles Stictonectes optatus (Seidlitz, 1887) and Scarodytes halensis (Fabricius, 1787) (Dytiscidae, Hydroporinae) with evidence of a spermatostyle in the sperm conjugation.

The structure of the male genital organs and spermiogenesis of two diving beetles, Stictonectes optatus and Scarodytes halensis were studied for the first time. S. optatus shows unifollicular testes consisting of a long tubule apically forming a globular structure.

New Findings on the Sperm Structure of Tenebrionoidea (Insecta, Coleoptera).

The sperm ultrastructure of a few representative species of Tenebrionoidea was studied. Two species belong to the Mordellidae ( sp.), one species to Oedemeridae (), and one species to Tenebrionidae ().

The sperm ultrastructure of members of basal Tenebrionoidea (Coleoptera).

The sperm ultrastructure of some beetles of Tenebrionoidea was studied with particular attention to those of the Ripiphoridae, Mordellidae, and Meloidae. These three groups are often thought to form a clade, which is the sister group of the remaining Tenebrionoidea. The testes of the two former families have thinner but longer spermatic cysts containing fewer and longer sperm.

EZmito: a simple and fast tool for multiple mitogenome analyses.

Complete mitochondrial genome data are frequently applied to address phylogenetic/phylogeographic issues at different taxonomic levels in ecology and evolution. While sample preparation/sequencing is becoming more and more straightforward thanks to dropping costs for next-generation sequencing (NGS), data preparation and visualization remains a manually intensive step that may lead to errors if improperly conducted. We have elaborated, and here introduce, EZmito, a simple and intuitive, freely accessible Web Server aimed at automating some of these tasks.

Re-Evaluating the Internal Phylogenetic Relationships of Collembola by Means of Mitogenome Data.

Collembola are an ancient and early diverging lineage of basal hexapods that occur in virtually all terrestrial habitats on Earth. Phylogenetic relationships between the different orders of Collembola are fiercely debated. Despite a range of studies and the application of both morphological and genetic approaches (singly or in combination) to assess the evolutionary relationships of major lineages in the group, no consensus has been reached.

New findings on the sperm ultrastructure of Carabidae (Insecta, Coleoptera).

The sperm structure of several species belonging to different tribes of the large Carabidae family is described. Some species of Nebriinae, such as Nebria brevicollis and Notiophilus biguttatus, have free conventional insect sperm. Their sperm type can be regarded as the ancestral model for Carabidae.

Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of Machilontus sp (Insecta: Archaeognatha) with phylogenetic consideration.

The sperm structure of the jumping bristletail Machilontus sp has been described. The species shares several sperm characteristics with other genera of the same order Archaeognatha. During late spermiogenesis the spermatid bends at half of its length with the two limbs closely apposed within the same plasma membrane.

Collembola, the biological species concept and the underestimation of global species richness.

Despite its ancient origin, global distribution and abundance in nearly all habitats, the class Collembola is comprised of only 8000 described species and is estimated to number no more than 50,000. Many morphologically defined species have broad geographical ranges that span continents, and recent molecular work has revealed high genetic diversity within species. However, the evolutionary significance of this genetic diversity is unknown.

The spermatogenesis and oogenesis of the springtail Podura aquatica Linné, 1758 (Hexapoda: Collembola).

Podura aquatica is a springtail of uncertain systematic position. Our study dealing with the ultrastructure of the spermatogenesis and oogenesis of this species is a contribution to a better knowledge of both the reproduction and the systematics of the taxon. In the male, the spermatogenesis proceeds in a similar way to that of other Collembola.

The ultrastructure of the ejaculatory duct in the springtail Orchesella villosa (Geoffroy) (Hexapoda, Collembola) and the formation of the spermatophore.

The initial part of the ejaculatory duct of Orchesella villosa contains a "valve" and a "sorter" avoiding respectively the reflow and allowing the separation of the secretion for the spermatophore stalk from the sperm fluid. For most of its length, the ejaculatory duct lumen is divided into two parts: in the dorsal part the sperm fluid flows while in the ventral district the secretion for the stalk occurs. Laterally, on both sides of the duct, longitudinal muscle fibers are present.