A biological switching valve evolved in the female of a sex-role reversed cave insect to receive multiple seminal packages

Kazunori Yoshizawa, Yoshitaka Kamimura, Charles Lienhard, Rodrigo L. Ferreira, Alexander Blanke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report a functional switching valve within the female genitalia of the Brazilian cave insect Neotrogla. The valve complex is composed of two plate-like sclerites, a closure element, and in-and-outflow canals. Females have a penis-like intromittent organ to coercively anchor males and obtain voluminous semen. The semen is packed in a capsule, whose formation is initiated by seminal injection. It is not only used for fertilization but also consumed by the female as nutrition. The valve complex has two slots for insemination so that Neotrogla can continue mating while the first slot is occupied. In conjunction with the female penis, this switching valve is a morphological novelty enabling females to compete for seminal gifts in their nutrient-poor cave habitats through long copulation times and multiple seminal injections. The evolution of this switching valve may have been a prerequisite for the reversal of the intromittent organ in Neotrogla.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere39563
JournaleLife
Volume7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 Oct

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)
  • Immunology and Microbiology(all)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)

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