| Abstrakt: |
The Aedeagus and spermatheca of the type species Pilemostoma fastuosum (Schaller) of the monotypic genus Pilemostoma Desbrochers des Loges have been studied and figured. Aedeagal and spermathecal structures were evaluated in detail under both stereo microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for the first time on the basis of 20 and 24 specified characters respectively. Contrary of popular acceptance, we demonstrate that the characteristics of the aedeagal and spermathecal structures, which can be obtained with SEM studies, can be used at almost all taxonomic levels diagnostically. It is obvious that the characteristics, however, will have different values for different taxonomic categories. As a result of this study, the aedeagi, especially a total of seven diverse characters (including characteristics of apex in dorsal view, general shape in lateral view, etc..), and the spermathecae, vasculum, ampulla, ductus glandula auxiliaris and ductus spermatheca are found generally constant within species, but distinct and useful in comparison with other species in the tribe Cassidini. Eventually, the aedeagal and spermathecal structures of the type species examined in this study was found to be distinctive not only at the species level but also at the generic level. Accordingly, as an important output of the study, we suggest that Pilemostoma should be downgraded to a subgenus level under the genus CassidaLinnaeus, 1758 as Cassida (Pilemostoma) Desbrocher des Loges, 1891 rest. stat.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
