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VOL. 7, ISSUE 1 (2022)
Morphology of the female genitalia in libellulid dragonflies [Acisoma panorpoides (Rambur 1842), Brachythemis contaminata (Fabricius 1793) and Crocothemis servilia (Drury 1770)] with special reference to the mechanism of sperm competition during copulation (Odonata; Anisoptera)
Authors
Payal R Verma
Abstract
The males of many insects, including some libellulid dragonflies, compete with one another after copulation to fertilize the eggs in the female’s post ovarian genital complex by removing the sperm of rivals, and/or by placing their own sperm in the most advantageous position. To understand the morphological compatibility for this mechanism of sperm competition, the sperm storage organ of the three species of dragonflies (Acisoma panorpoides, Brachythemis contaminata, Crocothemis servilia) was correlated with the penis head of the male. In Acisoma panorpoides and Crocothemis servilia, the sperm storage organ is large with a bulbous bursa copulatrix. The penis head bears large inflatable lobes which can be used to push and repack the rivals sperm far from the site of fertilization. The layered sperm material in the bursa copulatrix of Acisoma panorpoides indicate that flushing out of rival’s sperm is also used as a mechanism of sperm displacement. In Brachythemis contaminata the bursa copulatrix and spermathecae are very small and form a common duct before opening into the bursa copulatrix. The penis head of Brachythemis contaminata is equipped with a long flagellum with barbed tips which can help in physical removal of sperm from the sperm storage organs.
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Pages:35-40
How to cite this article:
Payal R Verma "Morphology of the female genitalia in libellulid dragonflies [<em>Acisoma panorpoides</em> (Rambur 1842), <em>Brachythemis contaminata </em>(Fabricius 1793) and <em>Crocothemis servilia </em>(Drury 1770)] with special reference to the mechanism of sperm competition during copulation (Odonata; Anisoptera)". International Journal of Zoology Studies, Vol 7, Issue 1, 2022, Pages 35-40
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