Spermalege: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Special-purpose organ found in bed bugs}} |
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The '''spermalege''' is a special-purpose organ found in [[bed bug]]s that appears to have evolved to mitigate the effects of [[traumatic insemination]].<ref name=Morrow>{{cite journal |url=http://www.iee.uu.se/zooekol/pdf/Morrow%20&%20Arnqvist%202003.pdf |
The '''spermalege''' (also known as the '''organ of Berlese'''<ref name=Siva-Jothy>Siva-Jothy, M. T. (2006) "Trauma, disease and collateral damage: conflict in cimicids," ''Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B,'' 361, 269–275.</ref>) is a special-purpose organ found in female [[Cimex|bed bug]]s that appears to have evolved to mitigate the effects of [[traumatic insemination]].<ref name=Morrow>{{cite journal |url=http://www.iee.uu.se/zooekol/pdf/Morrow%20&%20Arnqvist%202003.pdf |title=Costly traumatic insemination and a female counter-adaptation in bed bugs |author=Edward H. Morrow & Goran Arnqvist |journal=[[Proceedings of the Royal Society B]] |year=2003 |volume=270 |issue=1531 |pages=2377–2381 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2003.2514 |pmid=14667354 |pmc=1691516 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610090433/http://www.iee.uu.se/zooekol/pdf/Morrow%20%26%20Arnqvist%202003.pdf |archivedate=2007-06-10 }}</ref> The spermalege has two embryologically distinct parts, known as the '''ectospermalege''' and '''mesospermalege'''.<ref name=Reinhardt2003>Reinhardt, K., Naylor, R. & Siva-Jothy, M. T. (2003) "Reducing a cost of traumatic insemination: female bedbugs evolve a unique organ," ''Proceedings of the Royal Society B,'' 270, 2371–2375.</ref> The evolution of the spermalege as a female counter-adaptation for traumatic insemination was proposed by the French entomologist [[Jacques Carayon]] in 1966.<ref name=Morrow/><ref name=Carayon>Carayon, J. (1966) Traumatic insemination and the paragenital system. In ''Monograph of Cimicidae (Hemiptera—Heteroptera)'' (ed. R. L. Usinger), pp. 81–166. College Park, MD: Entomological Society of America.</ref> |
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==Structure== |
==Structure== |
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| ⚫ | The ectospermalege is derived from the [[ectoderm]].<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> It consists of a groove in the right-handed posterior margin of the fifth [[sclerite]], overlying a [[pleura|pleural membrane]].<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> |
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The spermalege has two embryologically distinct parts, known as the ectospermalege and mesospermalege.<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> |
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| ⚫ | The mesospermalege is derived from the [[mesoderm]].<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> It is a membrane-bound sac attached to the wall of the haemocoel, directly beneath the groove of the ectospermalege.<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> In all |
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| ⚫ | The ectospermalege is derived from the [[ectoderm]].<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> It consists of a groove in the right-handed posterior margin of the fifth [[sclerite]], overlying a [[pleura|pleural membrane]].<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> In order to access the female's [[haemocoel]] during traumatic insemination, male bed bugs insert their needle-like [[aedeagus]]<ref name=Ryne>Ryne, C. (2009) "Homosexual interactions in bed bugs: alarm pheromones as male recognition signals," ''Animal Behaviour'', 78, 1471–1475.</ref> into the groove, and pierce the pleural membrane.<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> This piercing produces wounds that leave melanised scars.<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> |
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| ⚫ | The mesospermalege is derived from the [[mesoderm]].<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> It is a membrane-bound sac attached to the wall of the haemocoel, directly beneath the groove of the ectospermalege.<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> In all bed bug species except ''Primicimex cavernis,'' sperm are injected into the mesospermalege.<ref name=Reinhardt2007>Reinhardt, K. & Siva-Jothy, M. T. (2007) "Biology of the bed bugs (Cimicidae)," ''Annual Review of Entomology,'' 52, 351–374.</ref> The structure contains two main types of [[hemocyte (invertebrate immune system cell)|hemocyte]], though their function is not yet fully understood.<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> The first of these is [[phagocytic]] and may absorb [[seminal fluid]],<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> whereas the other may digest [[spermatozoa]].<ref name=Reinhardt2003/> |
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==Function== |
==Function== |
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The ectospermalege is visible externally in most |
The ectospermalege is visible externally in most bed bug species, giving the male a target through which to impale the female. In species without an externally visible ectospermalege, traumatic insemination takes place over a wide range of the body surface.<ref name="Siva">{{cite journal |author=Siva-Jothy MT |title=Trauma, disease and collateral damage: conflict in cimicids |journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B |volume=361 |issue=1466 |pages=269–75 |pmid= 16612886 |pmc=1569606 |doi= 10.1098/rstb.2005.1789 |url= |date= 2006-02-28}}</ref> |
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<blockquote>Exactly why males 'comply' with this aspect of female control over the site of mating is unclear, especially as male ''P. cavernis'' appear to be able to penetrate the abdomen at a number of points independent of the presence of an ectospermalege. One possibility is that mating outside the ectospermalege reduces female [[fecundity]] to such an extent that the mating male's paternity is significantly reduced ... The ectospermalege appears to act as a mating guide, directing the male's copulatory interest, and therefore damage, to a restricted area of the female's abdomen.<ref name="Siva"/></blockquote> |
<blockquote>Exactly why males 'comply' with this aspect of female control over the site of mating is unclear, especially as male ''P. cavernis'' appear to be able to penetrate the abdomen at a number of points independent of the presence of an ectospermalege. One possibility is that mating outside the ectospermalege reduces female [[fecundity]] to such an extent that the mating male's paternity is significantly reduced ... The ectospermalege appears to act as a mating guide, directing the male's copulatory interest, and therefore damage, to a restricted area of the female's abdomen.<ref name="Siva"/></blockquote> |
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The spermalege structure serves to reduce the wounding and immunological costs of traumatic insemination.<ref name= |
The spermalege structure serves to reduce the wounding and immunological costs of traumatic insemination.<ref name=Reinhardt2003/><ref name=Reinhardt2007/> The piercing wound typically occurs in the [[exocuticle]] of the mesospermalege,<ref name=Reinhardt2007/> and is repaired by "scarring substance" developed in the [[epidermis (zoology)|epidermis]].<ref name=Reinhardt2007/> At least nine species of bacteria and fungi have been identified from the male [[aedeagus|intromittent organ]],<ref name=Reinhardt2007/> and the mesospermalege reduces the likelihood of infection from such pathogenic organisms.<ref name=Reinhardt2007/> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:Animal reproductive system]] |
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{{Hemiptera-stub}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Cimicomorpha]] |
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[[Category:Hemiptera]] |
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Latest revision as of 08:46, 4 May 2024
The spermalege (also known as the organ of Berlese[1]) is a special-purpose organ found in female bed bugs that appears to have evolved to mitigate the effects of traumatic insemination.[2] The spermalege has two embryologically distinct parts, known as the ectospermalege and mesospermalege.[3] The evolution of the spermalege as a female counter-adaptation for traumatic insemination was proposed by the French entomologist Jacques Carayon in 1966.[2][4]
Structure[edit]
The spermalege has two embryologically distinct parts, known as the ectospermalege and mesospermalege.[3]
The ectospermalege is derived from the ectoderm.[3] It consists of a groove in the right-handed posterior margin of the fifth sclerite, overlying a pleural membrane.[3] In order to access the female's haemocoel during traumatic insemination, male bed bugs insert their needle-like aedeagus[5] into the groove, and pierce the pleural membrane.[3] This piercing produces wounds that leave melanised scars.[3]
The mesospermalege is derived from the mesoderm.[3] It is a membrane-bound sac attached to the wall of the haemocoel, directly beneath the groove of the ectospermalege.[3] In all bed bug species except Primicimex cavernis, sperm are injected into the mesospermalege.[6] The structure contains two main types of hemocyte, though their function is not yet fully understood.[3] The first of these is phagocytic and may absorb seminal fluid,[3] whereas the other may digest spermatozoa.[3]
Function[edit]
The ectospermalege is visible externally in most bed bug species, giving the male a target through which to impale the female. In species without an externally visible ectospermalege, traumatic insemination takes place over a wide range of the body surface.[7]
Exactly why males 'comply' with this aspect of female control over the site of mating is unclear, especially as male P. cavernis appear to be able to penetrate the abdomen at a number of points independent of the presence of an ectospermalege. One possibility is that mating outside the ectospermalege reduces female fecundity to such an extent that the mating male's paternity is significantly reduced ... The ectospermalege appears to act as a mating guide, directing the male's copulatory interest, and therefore damage, to a restricted area of the female's abdomen.[7]
The spermalege structure serves to reduce the wounding and immunological costs of traumatic insemination.[3][6] The piercing wound typically occurs in the exocuticle of the mesospermalege,[6] and is repaired by "scarring substance" developed in the epidermis.[6] At least nine species of bacteria and fungi have been identified from the male intromittent organ,[6] and the mesospermalege reduces the likelihood of infection from such pathogenic organisms.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Siva-Jothy, M. T. (2006) "Trauma, disease and collateral damage: conflict in cimicids," Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 361, 269–275.
- ^ a b Edward H. Morrow & Goran Arnqvist (2003). "Costly traumatic insemination and a female counter-adaptation in bed bugs" (PDF). Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 270 (1531): 2377–2381. doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2514. PMC 1691516. PMID 14667354. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-06-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Reinhardt, K., Naylor, R. & Siva-Jothy, M. T. (2003) "Reducing a cost of traumatic insemination: female bedbugs evolve a unique organ," Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 270, 2371–2375.
- ^ Carayon, J. (1966) Traumatic insemination and the paragenital system. In Monograph of Cimicidae (Hemiptera—Heteroptera) (ed. R. L. Usinger), pp. 81–166. College Park, MD: Entomological Society of America.
- ^ Ryne, C. (2009) "Homosexual interactions in bed bugs: alarm pheromones as male recognition signals," Animal Behaviour, 78, 1471–1475.
- ^ a b c d e f Reinhardt, K. & Siva-Jothy, M. T. (2007) "Biology of the bed bugs (Cimicidae)," Annual Review of Entomology, 52, 351–374.
- ^ a b Siva-Jothy MT (2006-02-28). "Trauma, disease and collateral damage: conflict in cimicids". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. 361 (1466): 269–75. doi:10.1098/rstb.2005.1789. PMC 1569606. PMID 16612886.