In insect anatomy, the juxta is an organ in the males of most Lepidoptera (i.e. moths and butterflies) that supports the aedeagus, the organ used for reproduction in insects. The juxta is located between the two valvae.[1] Juxta has also been used to refer to a similar structure in fleshflies.[2][3]

Phallus and juxta in ventro-lateral view of the moth Antispila oinophylla

The term comes from the Latin iuxta, meaning alongside. The biological use of the term should not be confused with the more general use of juxta- as a prefix.

References edit

  1. ^ Eyer, J. R. (1926). "The morphological significance of the juxta in the male genitalia of Lepidoptera". Bull. Brook. Ent. Soc, 21, 32–37.
  2. ^ Buenaventura, Ellana; Szpila, Krzysztof; Cassel, Brian; Wiegmann, Brian; Pape, Thomas (October 2019). "Anchored hybrid enrichment challenges the traditional classification of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)". Systematic Entomology. 45 (2): 281–301. doi:10.1111/syen.12395. S2CID 209586901.
  3. ^ Buenaventura, Ellana; Pape, Thomas (January 2015). "Phylogeny of the Peckia-genus group: evolution of male genitalia in the major necrophagous guild of Neotropical flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)". Organisms Diversity & Evolution. 15 (2): 301–331. doi:10.1007/s13127-015-0203-0. S2CID 16036600. Retrieved 10 November 2020.