European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

THE MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM IN PAPILIO POLYTES POLYTES LINNAEUS, 1758 (LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONIDAE)

Sunil Madhukar Gaikwad* and Ganesh Parashram Bhawane

ABSTRACT

Observations on the male reproductive system in Papilio polytes polytes L. were carried out in the 5th larval instar and 3-4 day old male adult. They were dissected and were fixed in Bouin’s fluid. The tissues were routinely processed and sections were taken at 5-7 μ and stained doubly in Haematoxylene and Eosin. The paired testes are the only male reproductive organs in fifth instar larvae which are reddish, elongated and oval. The reproductive system of adult male consists of reddish, fused single testis, vasa-differentia, seminal vesicle, ejaculatory duct, aedeagus and paired accessory glands. There are four testicular follicles in each larval testis and eight testicular follicles in adult testis. Each testicular follicle in both testes shows the entire process of spermatogenesis, dividing follicle into four zones viz., germarium, the zone of growth, zone of maturation and zone of transformation. The spermatozoa are of eupyrene and apyrene types and grouped together in the form of numerous bundles. The testes and vasa-differentia are mesodermal showings no intima whereas remaining reproductive organs are ectodermal as they are lined by intima. The male genital aperture is located on the 9th abdominal segment.

Keywords: Testes, Follicles, Vas deference, Ejaculatory duct, Aedeagus, Papilio polytes polytes.