关键词: 蜡蝉科, 斑衣蜡蝉, 雌性生殖系统, 形态, 超微结构, 透射电子显微镜

Abstract: 【Aim】 This study aims to clarify the whole morphology and ultrastructure characteristics of the female reproductive system of the spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, so as to provide more morphological evidence for the taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily Fulgoroidea. 【Methods】 The general morphology and ultrastructure of the reproductive system of female adult of L. delicutula were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope. 【Results】 The reproductive system of female adult of L. delicatula mainly includes one pair of ovaries, one common oviduct, one bursa copulatrix, one bursa copulatrix duct, one anterior vagina, one posterior vagina, one spermatheca, one ductus receptaculi and two spermathecal accessory glands. The ovary is telotrophic and consists of 14 ovarian tubules, the egg chamber is composed of tunica propria, follicular cells and oocytes, and trophoblasts in ovarioles are clearly visible. The common oviduct is located at the ventral part of the anterior vagina, and comprised of lumen, epithelial cells, muscle sheath and basement membrane. The bursa copulatrix is spherical, and the wall is composed of epithelial cells, muscle layer and basement membrane. The bursa copulatrix duct is cylindrical, connecting with bursa copulatrix and posterior vagina, and comprised of muscle sheath, epithelial cell and lumen. The ultrastructure of the anterior and posterior vagina is similar, mainly composed of muscle sheath, basement membrane, epithelial cells and lumen, but there are secretory granules around the nucleus of the posterior vagina epithelial cells and lots of microvilli in the lumen, while there are lots of vesicles in the anterior vagina wall. The ductus receptaculi extends from the end of common oviduct to spermatheca and consists of basement membrane, thick muscular sheath and lumen. The spermatheca is saclike and slightly enlarged at the proximal end of the ductus receptaculi, and composed of muscle sheath, basement membrane, epithelial cells and lumen. The female spermathecal accessory gland is located at the end of the spermatheca, and in the from of a uniform spiral tube mainly composed of muscle layer, epithelial cell layer and the central lumen of the accessory gland. 【Conclusion】 The reproductive system of female adult of L. delicutula is similar to those of the previously reported fulgoroid groups, but the number of ovarian tubules differs from those of other families. The morphological characteristics of female accessory glands and spermathecal gland differ among families in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha. The ultrastructure of L. delicatula is also somewhat different from that of the species in Cicadelloidea and Cercopoidea. Whether these differences can be used for the division of higher taxa of Auchenorrhyncha needs to be studied further.

Key words: Fulgoridae; Lycorma delicatula, female reproductive system, morphology; ultrastructure, transmission electron microscope