Morphological and ultrastructural characterization and cuticular armature of the proventriculus in Bolua turkiyae Ünal, 1999 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae).

The alimentary canal is divided into three parts in insects as foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The intima of the foregut in orthopteran species is covered by cuticular layer which is differentiated into some spicules, microspines, lamellae, teeth, and ordenticles. Arrangement of these cuticular structures and histomorphological features differ in the pharynx, esophagus, crop, and proventriculus parts of the foregut. Moreover, the arrangement of these cuticular structures can vary among insect species. Consequently, these structures can be used as taxonomical characters. In this study, the morphological and ultrastructural features of the proventriculus which is the last part of the foregut in Bolua turkiyae Ünal, 1999 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) were investigated. B. turkiyae is an endemic species and there is no detailed information about the biology of this species. With the use of a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope it was revealed that sclerotized structures with microspines in different morphologies and arrangements are present on the inner surface of the proventriculus. These structures show a high level of similarity despite some differences in Orthoptera.