Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Reinterpretation of some Basal Structures in the Insect Ovipositor

Abstract

SNODGRASS1 based his interpretation of the female genitalia of the higher insect orders on the condition in Machilidae. In this family the ovipositor on the eighth and ninth segments is derived from the limb bases. The limb bases of the eighth segment (first genital) may be termed the first gonocoxae (1Gx) with the styli, the first gonostyli (1Gs) and the appendages, the first gonapophyses (1Gpo). Similarly, the ninth segment bears the second gonocoxae (2Gx), second gonostyli (2Gs) and second gonapophyses (2Gpo).

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Snodgrass, R. E., Smithson. Misc. Coll., 89, Pt. 1 (1933).

  2. Snodgrass, R. E., “Principles of Insect Morphology” (New York and London, 1935).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Asahina, S., “A Morphological Study of a Relic Dragonfly Epiophlebia superstes Selys (Odonata, Anisozygoptera)” (Tokyo, 1954).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Walker, E. M., Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 36, 681 (1943).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Michener, C. D., Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer., 37, 336 (1944).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SCUDDER, G. Reinterpretation of some Basal Structures in the Insect Ovipositor. Nature 180, 340–341 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/180340a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/180340a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing