Zoology: General

A Dictionary of Zoology A Dictionary of Biology Further reading

ovipositor

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

ovipositor Specialized egg-laying organ which in most insects is formed from outgrowths of the eighth and ninth abdominal segments. There are six outgrowths in all, known as valves, and these may be modified to form a variety of structures. In some insects the valves are short and in others they are drawn out to form a long, stylet-like tube. Extreme forms of ovipositor occur in the sawflies, ichneumons, and wood wasps, where it may be longer than the entire body, and equipped apically with saw teeth to aid penetration of hard plant tissues. Worker bees and sterile female wasps have the ovipositor modified to form a stinging organ and poison sac.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "ovipositor." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "ovipositor." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ovipositor.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "ovipositor." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ovipositor.html

Learn more about citation styles

ovipositor

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

ovipositor An organ at the hind end of the abdomen of female insects through which eggs are laid. It consists of a pair of modified appendages and is often long and piercing, so that eggs can be laid in otherwise inaccessible places. The sting of bees and wasps is a modified ovipositor.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"ovipositor." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"ovipositor." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-ovipositor.html

"ovipositor." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-ovipositor.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Reproductive behavior of Chavesincola inexpectabilis (Opiliones,... Magazine article from: Journal of Arachnology; 5/1/2009
	Five new species of the genus Microplitis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae:... Magazine article from: Florida Entomologist; 6/1/2008
	Building creative scientists in the classroom laboratory: applications for... Magazine article from: The American Biology Teacher; 4/1/2011