New Organ in Stenocephalidae (Hemiptera-Heteroptera)

Abstract

INVESTIGATIONS have revealed the presence of a pair of hitherto undescribed organs of unknown function in the abdominal cavity of males of the genus Dicranocephalus Hahn (D. agilis the type species, D. albipes, D. marginicoltis, D. stulosus and D. lateralis have been examined). These sac-like structures are situated principally in the seventh segment and appear to be formed by a prolongation of the posterior ventral margin of the eighth segment (Figs. 1 and 2) and are about 1 mm long. Distally the sacs are joined to a sclerotized plate from which arise about twenty-five to thirty semi-erect heavily sclerotized and pigmented tubes (Fig. 3), the entire structure being an invagination of the inter-segmental membrane of the eighth segment (Figs. 1 and 2).