The only visible external part of genitalia in lepidoptera males are the valves (in part), so it is necessary to remove and rinse them in a 10% KOH solution. Generally I cut only the last three abdominal segments without damaging the entire abdomen or the specimen.

The only visible external part of genitalia in lepidoptera males are the valves (in part), so it is necessary to remove and rinse them in a 10% KOH solution. Generally I cut only the last three abdominal segments without damaging the entire abdomen or the specimen.

Dear Luis Miguel Constantino

I mean any small kit that is now a day utilized to study other group for its anatomy etc. especially for very small sized individuals related to Lepidoptera. I do agree with your suggestion, but some time due to hard, sclerotized part is hard to remove from body or last three segment. please suggest any X ray technique or any scanning technique for field work. so that life of beautiful creature will not suffer to study the entire population belonging to any Taxa.

For a fairly quick look at the male genitalia (mostly uncus and valvae), under a dissecting microscope I use jeweler's forceps and a very fine brush (sometimes only 1-3 bristles, depending on the size of the moth) to slowly brush away the scales. Care must be taken to avoid damaging any projections or inflated or weakly-sclerotized parts. Once you are familiar with the "lay of the land," the posterior tergite can be picked away with the forceps to partially or fully expose the uncus.

I would NOT recommend this for unique specimens or types, but it is very useful for quickly sorting taxa with which you are already familiar and know where to look for the diagnostic parts of the genitalia.

For some externally similar species (e.g., Erynnis, Hesperiidae; Eucereon and other Arctiinae) I made a synoptic collection of males with genitalia more or less fully exposed, with much of the posterior tergites removed. Then, knowing what features to look for, a fairly quick brushing of the genitalia of an unknown specimen allowed a positive identification by comparing the unknown with specimens in the synoptic collection.

Dear Julian P Donahue,

thanks for information you shared. I am looking for scanning technique to be exercised at field identification. once we catch insect, study their genitalia and release again in that field.....despite to killed with ethyl acetate etc. I wants to work on live specimens. your information is really so appreciable... thanks.

This is not exactly what you are looking for, but it is worth pointing out that when pinning fresh male specimens of some groups of larger Lepidoptera, it is possible to gently pull on the valves one at a time using fine forceps, so that the genitalia are almost fully exposed, showing most of the diagnostic features, and they can then be dried in that position - using pins to hold the valves apart if you wish. It is a delicate task, so practice on less valuable specimens first. I have used this extensively with Hesperiidae, but also with Noctuoidea, and it subsequently facilitates the rapid checking of genitalia for diagnostic features or individual variation without dissection. You can also do this with specimens when fresh before being dried for storage in envelopes; although the valves tend not to stay open much remains visible, making subsequent examination without spreading the specimen much easier.

Dear, M.J.W. Cock

thanks for updated information and your suggestion, we can try this one too.... thanks good day sir.

I think micro CT- scan may help to detect the 3D image of small internal structure like genitalia. There are some papers on use of this technique to creat 3D image of internal organs of small animals like small fishes and insects.

dear pallab Chatterjee could you please send any updated published information you have? hopefully this technique will work ..