Exploring the Hidden Morphology: SEM Analysis of Aedeagus and Spermatheca in Cryptocephalus trimaculatus Rossi, 1790 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Türkiye with Implications for Subgeneric Classification

Abstract The paper presents ultrastructures observed by SEM of aedeagus and spermatheca of Cryptocephalus trimaculatus Rossi, 1790 that is a W-Palaeartic species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae) from Türkiye for the first time. With the present study, the morphologies of male and female genitalia of this species belonging to the nominative subgenus Cryptocephalus (s.str.) collected from Ankara, Çankırı, Kayseri and Mersin provinces are examined using SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). Detailed investigations of aedeagus and spermatheca are very important to obtain new diagnostic characters in the genus Cryptocephalus. For this reason, ultrastructural and detailed investigations of aedeagus and spermatheca of C. trimaculatus Rossi, 1790 from Türkiye were firstly studied with SEM to obtain new diagnostic characters in the genus Cryptocephalus. The new diagnostic characters obtained by examining the ultrastructure of aedeagus and spermatheca belonging to the species will be used in the distinction of species that are especially similar to each other, by determining the differences and important characters among the species in the genus Cryptocephalus. Photos in SEM as well as photos in stereo microscope are also given in the text.