The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae)
The bursa copulatrix of female Lepidoptera is a complex organ where crucial male–female reproductive interactions occur during and after copulation. The bursa copulatrix receives, stores, and digests the spermatophore and other substances transferred by the male during copulation, and is involved in...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/8/714 |
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| author | David Xochipiltecatl Carlos Cordero Joaquín Baixeras |
| author_facet | David Xochipiltecatl Carlos Cordero Joaquín Baixeras |
| author_sort | David Xochipiltecatl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The bursa copulatrix of female Lepidoptera is a complex organ where crucial male–female reproductive interactions occur during and after copulation. The bursa copulatrix receives, stores, and digests the spermatophore and other substances transferred by the male during copulation, and is involved in changes in female receptivity, ovogenesis, and oviposition. Although females of the butterfly <i>Leptophobia aripa</i> do not digest the spermatophore, they possess a prominent signum. Since, in general, the function of the signum is considered to be the piercing or tearing of the spermatophore to initiate its digestion, its presence in <i>L. aripa</i> poses a conundrum. We undertook a microscopic study of the different components of the bursa copulatrix (ductus bursae and corpus bursae) and found structural differences that we interpreted in functional terms. We provide a detailed description of the signum and present experimental data regarding its effect on the spermatophore. Our observations led us to propose a novel hypothesis regarding the function of the signum. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:55:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec6e135c98884004a5f83b17513c3f5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:55:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec6e135c98884004a5f83b17513c3f5d2023-12-01T23:49:29ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-08-0113871410.3390/insects13080714The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae)David Xochipiltecatl0Carlos Cordero1Joaquín Baixeras2Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, MexicoDepartamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, MexicoInstitut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de Valencia, Paterna, 6980 Valencia, SpainThe bursa copulatrix of female Lepidoptera is a complex organ where crucial male–female reproductive interactions occur during and after copulation. The bursa copulatrix receives, stores, and digests the spermatophore and other substances transferred by the male during copulation, and is involved in changes in female receptivity, ovogenesis, and oviposition. Although females of the butterfly <i>Leptophobia aripa</i> do not digest the spermatophore, they possess a prominent signum. Since, in general, the function of the signum is considered to be the piercing or tearing of the spermatophore to initiate its digestion, its presence in <i>L. aripa</i> poses a conundrum. We undertook a microscopic study of the different components of the bursa copulatrix (ductus bursae and corpus bursae) and found structural differences that we interpreted in functional terms. We provide a detailed description of the signum and present experimental data regarding its effect on the spermatophore. Our observations led us to propose a novel hypothesis regarding the function of the signum.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/8/714LepidopteraPieridaefemale genitaliacorpus bursaeductus bursaespermatophore |
| spellingShingle | David Xochipiltecatl Carlos Cordero Joaquín Baixeras The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae) Insects Lepidoptera Pieridae female genitalia corpus bursae ductus bursae spermatophore |
| title | The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae) |
| title_full | The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae) |
| title_fullStr | The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae) |
| title_short | The Functional Morphology of the Bursa Copulatrix of a Butterfly That Does Not Digest Spermatophores (<em>Leptophobia</em> <em>aripa</em>, Pieridae) |
| title_sort | functional morphology of the bursa copulatrix of a butterfly that does not digest spermatophores em leptophobia em em aripa em pieridae |
| topic | Lepidoptera Pieridae female genitalia corpus bursae ductus bursae spermatophore |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/8/714 |
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