Sex determination of lepidopterous pupae /

Abstract

Sexing pupae is a widely used process for many scientists and collectors working with butterflies and moths. This paper describes the male and female sex-characters that can be seen on the abdominal segments of most lepidopterous pupae. The paper describes these characters in 71 spp. of the suborder Ditrysia, indicating that all Ditrysia species (= 99% of all Lepidoptera) possess these characters. Finally the development of the reproductive systems is described and related to the sex-characters in the pupal cuticle.