Mosquitoes: female monogamy induced by male accessory gland substance

Abstract

Male accessory glands were implanted in virgin females of Aedes aegypti. When exposed to males, females copulated readily but were not inseminated; they remained sterile for life. Extract from one male could sterilize more than 64 females. The active principle may be a protein or peptide. Intraspecific transplant prevented insemination in 12 species, including Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex; interspecific transplant gave partial protection.