Comparative morphology of structures associated with metathoracic scent glands in Heteroptera

In my thesis, I studied the extemal structuresassociatedwith the metathoracicscent glands tn Heteroptera, partícularly in the superfamily Pentatomoidea' I focused on i) a review of terminology used for description oťmacrosculptureand microsculpture ofthese structures;ii) their morphology and structural diversity in partícularfamilies of Pentatomoidea;and iii) an attempt to homologize and polarize these structures and test their potential use for a phylogenetic hypothesis in Pentatomoidea. The followíng main terms are selected for description of the macrosculpture(thoracic Scent efferentsystem (intemal and extemal),valvular apparatus,intemal onfice, vestibule,vestíbular scar, ostiole, periostiolar depression,peritreme,auricle, spout, groove, rug4 disc, pentremal lobes, evaporatorium,and gyrification) and microsculpture(mycoid microsculpture,mushroom body, cap, stem, bridge, alveole, trabeculae,and peritremal microsculpture).These terms are defined,andan extensivelist ofsynonyms for eachofthem is compiled. The structures of the extemal scent efferent system are described for all families of the Pentatomoídea'The following conditions of the extemal scent efferent system are considered plesiomorphic: vestibular scar developed; ostiole situated between mesoacetabulum and metacetabulum,large,round or oval,..