Transfer, subsequent movement, and fate of sperm in the tobacco hornworm moth, <i>Manduca sexta</i>

During mating in the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), sperm are passed to female via a copulation which male transfers large often complex spermatophore over major part of an hour or more. Subsequently, course considerably more, exit travel relatively route spermatheca, where stored then used as eggs laid. The process formation migration has been described many Lepidoptera, but mechanics involved have received less attention. Understanding these is important discerning relative roles males females determining outcome matings. We describe how formed, migrate female, fate spermatheca tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta. found that movement from relied upon motility sperm, further was dependent on muscular action. After arriving anucleate parasperm (apyrene sperm) separated into lateral pouch (lagena) disappeared 7 days, whereas eusperm (eupyrene persisted central lumen (utriculus). persistence two types could shed some light what determines proclivity remate. Elucidation physiological mechanisms contributes understanding choice competition Lepidoptera.