Paramere
Encyclopedia
Parameres are part of the external reproductive organs of male insects and the term was first used by Verhoeff
in 1893 for the lateral genital lobes in Coleoptera. The primary phallic lobes which appear in the nymph or larval stages may become a pair of penes in the Ephemeroptera or a simple median penis in the Thysanura
. In higher insect orders from Orthoptera
to Hymenoptera
, each of the primary lobes is divided into two secondary lobes or phallomeres, termed mesomeres and parameres. In adult insects parameres may elongate and become genital claspers. These claspers may themselves occur in two segments, forming a proximal basimere and a distal telomere
or harpago
('grappling hook').
The morphology of insect genitalia displays enormous diversity and consequently has become of prime importance in taxonomy or the classification of insects by their affinities.
Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff
Karl Wilhelm Verhoeff was a German zoologist, specialising in millipedes and centipedes , as well as woodlice and to a lesser extent insects.-Biography:...
in 1893 for the lateral genital lobes in Coleoptera. The primary phallic lobes which appear in the nymph or larval stages may become a pair of penes in the Ephemeroptera or a simple median penis in the Thysanura
Thysanura
Thysanura is an order of insects, encompassing silverfish and firebrats, known for their three long caudal filaments.The families Machilidae and Meinertellidae of the jumping bristletails were once included with Thysanura....
. In higher insect orders from Orthoptera
Orthoptera
Orthoptera is an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.Many insects in this order produce sound by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps...
to Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants. There are over 130,000 recognized species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek ὑμήν : membrane and...
, each of the primary lobes is divided into two secondary lobes or phallomeres, termed mesomeres and parameres. In adult insects parameres may elongate and become genital claspers. These claspers may themselves occur in two segments, forming a proximal basimere and a distal telomere
Telomere (insect morphology)
A telomere in insect morphology occurs in higher insect orders from Orthoptera to Hymenoptera. In adult insects of these orders, genital claspers may develop in two segments, a proximal basimere and a distal telomere....
or harpago
Harpago
Harpago is a genus of sea snails, marine gastropod mollusks in the family Strombidae, the true conchs.Harpago is also a term used in insect morphology for the distal end of a genital clasper.-Species:...
('grappling hook').
The morphology of insect genitalia displays enormous diversity and consequently has become of prime importance in taxonomy or the classification of insects by their affinities.