Morphology of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa variation in Anopheles darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae).

Abstract

In this study, we present an analysis of the male reproductive system and spermatozoa of Anopheles darlingi Root, 1926, the primary malaria vector in Brazil. The reproductive system consists of a pair of unifollicular testes, deferent ducts, a muscular ejaculatory duct, and a pair of accessory glands. The average spermatozoa length was 188 µm, with a continuous variation from 92 to 246 µm. This significant variation may be associated with the mosquito's copulatory behavior, in which females are monandrous. This scenario may reduce the selective pressure for uniformity of male gametes in this species.