Research update
October 23rd 2009 12:28
My research into the genitalia of seed beetles is coming along nicely. As I've mentioned before, I'm doing a Masters at the University of New South Wales, and my focus is on the evolution of genital components in insects. The seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus is the model system for two components of the overall program (the third component looks at traumatic insemination in the Heteroptera, a group of bugs). Here are some photos from the study. The genital components I'm looking at include spines on the male aedeagus (intrommitent organ, or penis), spines in the female reproductive tract, the connective tissue composing the reproductive tract, and various other things that are poorly understood. This is a cool approach because most previous studies have focused on one or two genital components, but this one looks at several in both sexes to see how they reacted (or didn't react) to differential life history and sexual selection treatments. This can shed light on how they're used (say, in an antagonistic capacity, or in a more cooperative one).
Spines of the male aedeagus. Source: Luis Cayetano.
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