The Functional Anatomy of the Copulatory Apparatus of Male Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae)1

Abstract

The male copulatory apparatus of Culex pipiens L. is basically similar to that of Aedes aegypti (L.). The sclerites of both appear to be sheets of cuticle grouped in 3 functional units. The genital pore is situated deep within the aedeagus, and the latter must be rotated, to expose the pore. The ventral arm of the aedeagus, which is much larger in C. p. quinquefasciatus Say than in C. p. pipiens, projects during eversion in such a manner as to suggest that it may interfere with heterologous matings. It is suggested that contact of the modified claspers of the male with the postgenital plate of the female may serve as a stimulus to eversion of the aedeagus in C. pipiens.