Sphragis (biology)

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The sphragis in three different Parnassius species
a) P. jacquemonti
b) P. epaphus
c) P. hardwickei
Sphragis of the Red Apollo

With Sphragis a horny structures of is chitin on the abdomen of female butterflies designated which is formed from a white moth secretion of the male after mating and cures even during mating. It prevents new copulation, can become several millimeters long and is located on the underside of the abdomen. Particularly pronounced it is in species of the subfamily Parnassiinae in the family of the swallowtail butterfly , from Central Europe to the Red Apollo , the Black Apollo and the Alps Apollo occur.

The name comes from the ancient Greek σφραγίς, the seal . The German term " mating bag" is ambiguous because it is also used for the bursa copulatrix of invertebrates , which also include insects .

Individual evidence

  1. Thomas C. Emmel: Wonderful and mysterious world of butterflies . Ed .: Edward S. Ross. 1st edition. Bertelsmann. Gütersloh / Berlin 1976, ISBN 3-570-00893-2 .
  2. Malcolm J. Scoble: The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity . Oxford University Press, Oxford 1995, ISBN 0-19-854952-0 (English).