The spermatophore of the skipper, Calpodes ethlius (Hesperiidae: Lepidoptera): the sperm sac

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Abstract
The spermatophore of Calpodes ethlius and its relationship with the bursa copulatrix are described. The sperm sac, which contains the semen, is an elongated cone which occupies the bursal duct and has its opening at the end of this duct near the seminal duct. The sperm sac consists of a relatively insoluble, outer fibrous section and an inner membranous one, derived from the epithelium of the most distal section of the simplex of the male. Infrared and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and amino acid analysis confirm the proteinaceous nature of the insoluble component and the absence of chitin. Fluorescence spectroscopy failed to confirm the suspected presence of di- and tri-tyrosine linkages.