moth reproductive system

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NikonUser
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moth reproductive system

Post by NikonUser »

Female moths store sperm, from males, in a small sac (corpus bursa). At the time of egg-laying sperms travel from the sac to an egg just before it is laid.
The corpus bursa varies in shape and 'ornamentation' ranging from a simple unadorned sac to one covered in internal spines. In the genus Macaria there is a single star-shaped signum. I am unaware of any data relating to the function of these structures - somewhat baffling as many species lack such signa.
This is a female of Macaria brunneata, a holarctic species.
Signum photo: Nikon MPlan 40x LWD, bellows, D810, Zerene stack.
Attachments
17vii20-1 moth.jpg
17vii20-1 gen.jpg
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
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The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

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rjlittlefield
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Re: moth reproductive system

Post by rjlittlefield »

Very nice! The signum structure is new to me. Thanks for that info.

--Rik

NikonUser
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Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
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Re: moth reproductive system

Post by NikonUser »

I guess I never really looked into the function:
https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... epidoptera
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

NikonUser
Posts: 2693
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
Location: southern New Brunswick, Canada

Re: moth reproductive system

Post by NikonUser »

2nd species, same genus; Macaria signaria
signum appears to have an opening to the body cavity
Attachments
6344 mac sig fem.jpg
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

rjlittlefield
Site Admin
Posts: 23561
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 8:34 am
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Re: moth reproductive system

Post by rjlittlefield »

NikonUser wrote:
Mon Jul 20, 2020 9:58 am
signum appears to have an opening to the body cavity
I wonder if the other one does also, and the difference is a matter of the angle that we're viewing from.

I imagine that stereo views of un-squashed specimens might be helpful in figuring this out.

Does the same distinction appear during dissection, when looking through the scope?

--Rik

NikonUser
Posts: 2693
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
Location: southern New Brunswick, Canada

Re: moth reproductive system

Post by NikonUser »

As they are on the same genus I suspect the structures are very similar.
This latest image is a lateral view of the signum, the earlier image is a surface view.
These structures must be of high significance, no other reason to develop such a relatively complex structure in what is otherwise a simple storage sac.
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

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