Inverted Copulation

There are extremely rare cases among insects, and possibly among some mites, where females possess a specialized extensible intromittent organ, that collects the male’s spermatophore or the male sperm. The cases are known among certain Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae (Argynnis) and Lycaenidae (Plebejus) and Coleoptera: Scirtidae or Helodidae (Cyphon). It could exist among certain Acari: Canestriniidae, but the fact has to be confirmed. However, the whole concept needs further investigation, and in certain cases (Lycaenidae) other interpretations are to be considered. In all cases, anyhow, the female lightly penetrates the male. In some cases, the female seems to capture and aspirate the spermatophore or the semen and actively collect it from the male genitalia. The extensive organs of certain Lepidoptera families seem to have evolved independently and convergently and are divergent in shape if not in function. It is evident that a reevaluation of the structure and of its functioning is...