Detailed developmental morphology of the spermatophore of the Mediterranean field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus (De Geer) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).
The detailed developmental morphology of the spermatophore of a cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus, De Geer) is described for the first time. A specific behavioural reference point is identified from which time developmental processes proceed in a more or less robotic manner. The structures previously identified as forming part of the fully formed spermatophore, that is, the ampulla, the sperm tube and the attachment plate are all identified in detail during their development. Interestingly the attachment plate material is extruded as an amorphous mass from the ejaculatory duct prior to its insertion into the dorsal pouch, the sperm do not enter the sperm sac until the end of spermatophore formation, and the sperm tube itself is formed from a flattened layer of material which rolls up into a tube and involves the use of a die mechanism.