Internal Anatomy of an Insect

The Insect Reproductive System

Insect reproductive system.

Illustration courtesy of Piotr Jaworski (Creative Commons license), modified by Debbie Hadley

This diagram shows the female reproductive system. Female insects have two ovaries (15), each comprised of numerous functional chambers called ovarioles (seen within the ovary in the diagram). Egg production takes place in the ovarioles. Egg are then released into the oviduct. The two lateral oviducts, one for each ovary, join at the common oviduct (18). The female oviposits fertilized eggs with her ovipositor (not pictured).

• An Introduction to Insect Organs and Internal Structures
• The Insect Nervous System
• The Insect Digestive System
• The Insect Circulatory System
• The Insect Respiratory System
• The Insect Reproductive System
• The Insect Excretory System