The Reproductive System of Cockroaches

The sex organs of cockroaches are very well developed. The male reproductive system includes a pair of trilobed testes that lie on each lateral side of the abdomen. The male genital pouch also contains the seminal vesicle and vasa deferens.

In male cockroaches, a large accessory gland called the conglobate gland is located at the base of the gonopore. Its narrow duct opens into the genital pouch and secretes a covering for the spermatophore. The genital pouch is located at the hind end of the abdomen and is bounded by the 9th and 10th segments. Both phalanges have a spongy substance inside. Sperms are grouped together and are released during copulation.

In the female cockroach, the reproductive organs consist of ovaries, ovary, genital chamber, oviduct, and colleterial gland. The ovaries are located in the fourth, fifth, and sixth abdominal segments. The ovary and spermathecae are located in the 6th abdominal segment.

Each ovariole produces one mature ovum and deposits 16 eggs into the genital chamber. Sperms fertilize the eggs and the gland encloses the fertilized eggs. There are also spiracles in each segment. The male cockroach has 10 pairs of spiracles: two in the thorax and eight in the abdomen.