Male Damsel fly transferring sperm to his copulatory organs - look closely!
Male reproductive organs are at the end of the abdomen but his copulatory organs are at the front of the abdomen. Before searching for a mate he has to transfer the sperm from the tip of the abdomen to the front so he can use the claspers at the tip to grasp and hold the female by the neck to keep her from getting away. She bends her body so the tip of her abdomen makes contact with his copulatory organs to collect the sperm. This is known as the copulation wheel.
Male Damsel fly transferring sperm to his copulatory organs - look closely!
Male reproductive organs are at the end of the abdomen but his copulatory organs are at the front of the abdomen. Before searching for a mate he has to transfer the sperm from the tip of the abdomen to the front so he can use the claspers at the tip to grasp and hold the female by the neck to keep her from getting away. She bends her body so the tip of her abdomen makes contact with his copulatory organs to collect the sperm. This is known as the copulation wheel.