Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

An ovipositor is a specialized organ found in female insects and some other animals, used for depositing eggs. In insects, the ovipositor is often formed from modified terminal abdominal segments. This structure plays a crucial role in reproduction, allowing the female to place her eggs in a suitable location for development. The vagina in female insects serves a dual purpose, acting as both the passage for receiving sperm during copulation and for laying eggs.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.