Description
The male cockroach reproductive system consists of paired testes, vasa deferentia, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct, accessory glands (mushroom and phallic glands), and external genitalia called phallomeres or gonapophyses.
Main Components and Structure
Testes: There are two three-lobed testes located dorsolaterally in the 4th and 5th abdominal segments. These produce sperm, and are well developed in young cockroaches.
Vasa deferentia: Each testis is connected by a thin, white vasa deferens that transports sperm posteriorly. These tubes join together at the rear of the abdomen to form the ejaculatory duct.
Seminal vesicles: The seminal vesicles, found near the ejaculatory duct, store sperm in bundles called spermatophores before ejaculation.
Accessory Glands
Mushroom gland (utricular gland): A large, branched, club-shaped gland below the ejaculatory duct composed of utriculi majores and utriculi breviores. It secretes fluids that help form and nourish spermatophores.
Phallic or Conglobate gland: A large, club-shaped gland positioned ventrally beneath the utricular gland. It opens close to the genital pore and secretes the outer substance covering spermatophores.
Genital Pouch and External Genitalia
Genital pouch: Located at the posterior end of the abdomen, it contains the anus, male genital pore, and three asymmetrical chitinous external genital processes called phallomeres (male gonapophyses).
Phallomeres/Gonapophyses: These external genitalia surround the male genital opening and assist in copulation and the transfer of spermatophores into the female.
Function
Sperm are formed in the testes, transported along the vasa deferentia, and stored in the seminal vesicles.
Secretions from the accessory glands facilitate spermatophore formation and protection.
During copulation, phallomeres help transfer spermatophores into the female’s genital pouch for fertilization.
This system enables efficient sperm production, transfer, and fertilization in cockroaches, supporting their reproductive success.