THE STRUCTURE OF SPERMATHECA IN THE SUBGENUS CASSIDA (CASSIDA) LINNAEUS,1758 (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: CASSIDINAE) AND ITS TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

摘要

Spermathecae of 9 species including the type species Cassida nebulosa Linnaeus,1758 belonging to the subgenus Cassida (Cassida) Linnaeus,1758 from Turkey have been studied and figured.Sperma-thecal structures of these species were evaluated under both a stereo microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).Vasculum,ampulla,ductus glan-dula auxiliaris and ductus spermatheca are generally constant in shape within species,but distinct and useful in comparison with other species.Based on the structure of these four parts of spermatheca,six morphological groups have been distinguishedand defined in the subgenus Cassida (s.str.).According to the structures of spermathecae,it was revealed that the subgenus Cassida (Cassida) Linnaeus,1758 is a polymorphic and polyphyletic group,not a mono-phyletic.In accordance with the results obtained in this study,the problematic taxonomic position of the subgenus Cassida (Cassida) is discussed.Accordingly,three new subgenera are described.The following three names are proposed for the new subgenera of Cassida Linnaeus,1758; Cassida (Longiampulla) subgen.nov.with the type species Cassida vibex Linnaeus,1767; Cassida (Diversi-vascula) subgen.nov.with the type species Cassida sanguinolenta Muller,1776 and Cassida {Reliqua-cassida) subgen.nov.with the type species Cassida rubiginosa Muller,1776.