Dermaptera (earwigs) is a relatively small polyneopteran order with approximately 2200
described species. They are characterized by a pair of forceps, which are hardened …

Background Mating behaviors have been widely studied for extant insects. However, cases
of mating individuals are particularly rare in the fossil record of insects, and most of them …

We compared the postabdominal architecture of Mastigini with extremely long
(Stenomastigus) or short (Palaeostigus) aedeagus. A novel mode of copulation was …

The spider genus Metagonia has been represented on the Galápagos Islands by two blind
species inhabiting lava tubes on Isabela and Santa Cruz. Epigean relatives had not been …

Insect male genitalia show an evolutionarily variable morphology that has proven to be
valuable for both, species identifications and phylogenetic analyses at higher taxonomic …

Despite genital structures in insects being consistently important as systematic and
taxonomy evidence, within assassin bugs (Heteroptera, Reduviidae) at least, the male and …

With the emergence of the new field of evolutionary developmental biology we are
witnessing a renaissance of Darwin's insights 150 years after his On the Origin of Species …

Asymmetries in bilateral organisms attract a lot of curiosity given that they are conspicuous
departures from the norm. They allow the investigation of the integration at different levels of …

Genital asymmetry is relatively common and widespread throughout the animal kingdom.
The functional significance of genital asymmetry is however, poorly understood for most …

Hangingflies are unique for the male providing a nuptial gift to the female during mating and
taking a face-to-face hanging copulation with the female. Their male genitalia are peculiar …