KSÜ Tarım ve Doğa Derg 23 (2): 396-401, 2020 KSU J. AgricNat 23 (2): 396-401, 2020 DOI:10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.630773 Spermatheca Structure of Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) in Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Neslihan BAL Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Fakültesi Biyoloji Bölümü https://orcid.org/0000-0001-2345-6789 : [email protected] ABSTRACT ResearchArticle It is accepted that male genitalia are not diagnostic, spermatheca are partly diagnostic within the genus Cassida Linnaeus, 1758. However, ArticleHistory so far, it appears that genital studies are based solely on stereo Received : 08.10.2019 microscopy. Ultrastructures of genitalia have been not studied except Accepted : 19.12.2019 for a few studies. In this study, female genital structure belonging to three Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787 specimens collected from Kayseri Keywords and Niğde provinces in 1996 and 2018 from Turkey was examined for Chrysomelidae the first time in SEM in order to determine whether ultrastructural Cassida studies are useful from taxonomic point of view. Thus, new diagnostic SEM characters were obtained and it revealed that it was diagnostic for Spermatheca species in other subgenus. Photos of spermatheca taken by both SEM Turkey and stereo microscope are also given. Taramalı Elektron Mikroskobunda (SEM) Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787’ nın SpermathecaYapısı (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) ÖZET Araştırma Makalesi Cassida Linnaeus, 1758 cinsi içerisinde genel olarak erkek genitalinin ayırt edici olmadığı, spermateka’nın ise kısmen ayırt edici olduğu Makale Tarihçesi kabul edilmektedir. Bununla birlikte şimdiye kadar yapılan genital Geliş Tarihi : 08.10.2019 çalışmalarının sadece stereo mikroskoba dayalı olduğu Kabul Tarihi : 19.12.2019 görülmektedir. Genital yapıların ultrastrüktürel yapısı birkaç çalışma dışında çalışılmamıştır. Ultrastrüktürel çalışmaların Anahtar Kelimeler taksonomik açıdan kullanışlı olup olmadığını ortaya koymak Chrysomelidae amacıyla bu çalışmada Türkiye’den 1996 ve 2018 yıllarında Kayseri Cassida ve Niğde illerinden toplanan toplam üç Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787 SEM örneğine ait dişi genital yapısı SEM’de ilk defa olarak incelenmiştir. Spermateka Bu sayede, yeni ve ayırt edici karakterler elde edilmiş ve diğer bir alt Türkiye cinsteki daha önce çalışmış türlerden ayırt edici olduğu ortaya konulmuştur. Dişi genitalinin hem SEM hem de stereo mikroskop fotoğrafları da çalışma içerisinde sunulmuştur. To Cite : Bal N 2020. Spermatheca Structure of Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) in Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). KSU J. Agric. Nat. 23 (2): 396-401. DOI: 10.18016/ksutarimdoga.vi.630773. INTRODUCTION species Cassida nebulosa Linnaeus, 1758 and one The genus Cassida Linnaeus, 1758, contains numerous native species from North America). The species spread around the world (Palearctic, Neartic, nominotypical subgenus is represented by 21 species in Oriental, Afro-tropical, Madagascar and Australian Turkey. Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787 is one of the regions). In the Palearctic and Oriental region, species species in the nominotypical subgenus. of the genus Cassida appear to be divided into 15 According to Bordy and Doguet (1987), Borowiec and subgenera (Borowiec, 2007; Özdikmen and Bal, 2019). Świętojańska (2001) and Borowiec (2007), male The Cassidinae fauna of Turkey include 51 species of genitalia are not diagnostic within the genus Cassida six genera. The genus Cassida has 41 species of 11 Linnaeus, 1758. Spermathecae are partly diagnostic. subgenera (Ekiz et al., 2013; Özdikmen et al., 2014; However, studies on genitalia have been based on only Özdikmen and Kaya, 2014). stereo microscope up to now. Ultrastructures of genitalia have never been studied except for a few The nominotypical subgenus Cassida (Cassida) recent works (Ataş et al., 2019a, 2019b). Linnaeus, 1758 includes 46 species distributed around the World (45 Palearctic species including the type Hitherto, we think that arrangement of the subgeneric KSÜ Tarım ve Doğa Derg 23 (2): 396-401, 2020 Araştırma Makalesi KSU J. AgricNat 23 (2): 396-401, 2020 ResearchArticle classification in the genus Cassida on the base of microscopic examination, the samples were placed in aedeagal and especially spermathecal morphologies 70% ethanol and examined with Olympus SZX7 was overlooked due to this acceptance and approval. stereomicroscope. However, we believe that ultrastructural and detailed For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cleaned investigations of aedeagi and spermathecae will be samples were dehydrated using an ascending series of very important in the genus Cassida with regard to ethanol (70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%) and then air dried. subgeneric classification especially. With this reason, After that, the specimens were mounted onto detailed investigations of spermatheca of Cassida SEM stubs using a double-sided adhesive tape, coated atrata Fabricius, 1787 from Turkey were studied with with gold using a Polaron SC 502 Sputter Coater, and stereo microscope. Obtaining observations are examined with a JEOL JSM 6060 Scanning Electron presented in below. Microscope (SEM) at 10 kV. The aim of this work is to reveal; detailed morphologies of spermatheca of Cassida atrata observed by stereo RESULTS and DISCUSSION microscope and SEM. Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787(Fig. 1) Cassida atrata is a European species. Its body length MATERIALS and METHODS is 5.1-7 mm. It is distributed in Europe (Albania, The available specimens (a total of three specimens) Austria, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Republic, for the present work were collected from Kayseri and France, Germany, Greece, Herzegovina, Hungary, Niğde provinces in Turkey in 1996 and 2018. The Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, specimens were deposited at Gazi University (Ankara, Serbia- Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Turkey). Ukraine) and Asia (Turkey) (Warchalowski, 2010; The spermatheca were dissected from abdomen, and Borowiec and Sekerka, 2010). remaining tissue was removed with fine tweezers. For Figure 1.Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787; A. dorsal view, B. ventral view, C. Lateral view.Scale bars size is 1 mm Şekil 1.Cassida atrata Fabricius, 1787; A. dorsal görünüm, B. Ventral görünüm, C. Yandan görünüm. Ölçek çubuk boyutu 1 mm’dir. The species is widely distributed in Turkey. It has been presented as follows: recorded from nine provinces including Ankara, Bolu, Spermatheca: In stereo microscope(Fig. 2): Vasculum Bursa, Çorum, Eskişehir, Isparta, Mersin and Niğde (General view of spermatheca) is eggplant-shaped or provinces in Asian Turkey and Edirne province in boxing glove-shaped, distinctly curved, relatively European Turkey (Ekiz et al., 2013; Özdikmen and obtuse angled, dissymmetrical C-shaped (apical part of Kaya, 2014). cornu prolonged). It is generally light brown. In Material examined: Kayseri: Develi, Kocahacılı, vasculum, cornu is much thicker than the nodulus, 38°11'15" N 35°23'50" E, 07.V.2018, 1092 m, 1 especially in the apical part. Apical part of cornu is specimen; Niğde: Melendiz, between Hançerli- clearly swollen and dark in color. Apex of cornu is not Küçükköy, 03.VII.1996, 1 specimen; Çamardı, rounded. Nodulus is short, almost parallel, not 29.VI.1996, 1 specimen. swollen. Nodulus is darkened on internal surface basally. Ampulla is in the shape of an elongated Spermatheca of Cassida atrata was studied with SEM channel or tubular and connected to the nodulus on the and stereo microscope. Observations on outer surface in the basal part of the nodulus. The ultrastructural and detailed morphologies are ramus is in the form of a long straight and thick 397 KSÜ Tarım ve Doğa Derg 23 (2): 396-401, 2020 Araştırma Makalesi KSU J. AgricNat 23 (2): 396-401, 2020 ResearchArticle channel or pipe which is slightly enlarged in the integument behind nodulus fringed that more or less middle. The widest part of ramus is slightly thinner corrugated. Spermathecal gland connected to proximal than the thickness of the nodulus. The spermatheca duct before its first curve. Nodulus, cornu, proximal gland is attached to the ramus at the outer surface of tube of ductus spermatheca have scattered, irregular the ramus. Ductus spermatheca connects straight to and sparsely ultrastructural pits. the ramus, which is thick and long. It is in the form of Cassida atrata is in the nominotypical subgenus of a flat tube that folds widely in the proximal part. It is Cassida. According to the results of the present work, thicker in the next large part, and is regularly curved spermathecal morphologies of Cassida atrata in a spiral shape. Ductus spermatheca is thinner than distinctly differ from Cassida nebulosa Which is the ramus. type species of the genus and nominotypical subgenus. Many characters in detail are diagnostic. These diagnostic characters can be seen below. Spermatheca of Cassida nebulosa Linnaeus, 1758 in stereo microscope (Fig. 7): General view of spermatheca is in the form of an opened hook or bird beak-shaped, distinctly curved. Nodulus is distinctly swollen and bulbous. Apical part of cornu is clearly sharpened. Apex of cornu is pointed. Cornu has an integument trace in front of the apex. Collum is invisible, and much reduced. Ramus is visible, but small. It is joined to nodulus in latero median part of external surface basally. Ductus spermatheca is very long, rather fine, and regularly spiral almost along its length. Figure 2. Spermatheca of Cassida atrata Fabricius, Diagnostic characters of spermatheca