A review of the occurrence and diversity of the sphragis in butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea).

ABSTRACT: Males of many butterfly species secrete long-lasting mating plugs to prevent their mates from copulating with other males, thus ensuring their sperm will fertilize all future eggs laid. Certain species have further developed a greatly enlarged, often spectacular, externalized plug, termed a sphragis. This distinctive structure results from complex adaptations in both male and female genitalia and is qualitatively distinct from the amorphous, internal mating plugs of other species. Intermediate conditions between internal plug and external sphragis are rare. The term sphragis has often been misunderstood in recent years, hence we provide a formal definition based on accepted usage throughout most of the last century. Despite it being a highly apparent trait, neither the incidence nor divers

SUBMITTER: Carvalho APS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5672779 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature