taxonID	type	description	language	source
03A6B906FFA5D136FDABF74AFBD6F955.taxon	description	Optical microscopy The complete female reproductive system of T. melanocephala has: two ovaries, two lateral oviducts, a common oviduct, two spermathecae, an accessory gland, and a genital chamber. The study of ovaries of adult females of T. melanocephala showed that they are double and consist of several ovarioles, as it can be seen in Fig. 1 A. The ovaries are divided into three parts: terminal filament, ovarian or ovary tubes, and peduncle or chalice. The terminal filament ends on the thoracic adipose body, promoting the positioning of the ovary. The ovary is covered by a tunic of its own, which is lined externally by the peritoneal membrane that goes from the lateral oviduct to the terminal filament, having little contact with the ovaries. The spermathecae of T. melanocephala presented a variation in the positioning (Fig. 1) and differences in size and shape depending on whether they are full or empty of sperm (Figs. 1 B, C). Slim insertions were found in the common oviduct, and there were large and medium bodies with rounded terminal portions (Figs. 1 B, C). The complete male reproductive system has: two testicles, two vas deferens, seminiferous vesicle, two accessory glands and ejaculatory duct. The testicles of T. melanocephala have seven testicular follicles that are encased by a peritoneal sheath (Figs. 2 A, B, C). They presented an irregular contour, approximately ellipsoid shaped, and a transparent coloration with slight vitreous luster (Fig. 2 A). Scanning Electron Microscopy The spermathecae of T. melanocephala showed a rounded shape with variations when they are full of sperm. When empty, they presented the same format in all samples analyzed (Fig. 3). The testicles of T. melanocephala presented a rounded shape, having a differentiation in the regions of connection with anterior vas deferens and terminal filament (Fig. 4).	en	de Oliveira, Jader, Chaboli Alevi, Kaio Cesar, Nascimento, Juliana Damieli, Mendonça, Vagner José, Freitas de Araújo, Renato, da Rosa, João Aristeu (2023): Description of the spermathecae and testicles of Triatoma melanocephala Neiva & Pinto, 1923 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae). Revista Chilena de Entomología (Rev. Chil. Entomol.) 49 (2): 271-278, DOI: 10.35249/rche.49.2.23.07, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.35249/rche.49.2.23.07
