The fate of the normal‐anucleated spermatozoa in inseminated females of the silkworm Bombyx mori

Both typical (haploid) and atypical (anucleated) spermatozoa reach the receptaculum seminis of inseminated females of Bombyx mori intermingled. However, only typical spermatozoa both leave the receptaculum and fertilize the eggs. Atypical spermatozoa, which are in fact anucleated flagellar apparatuses, probably function in transporting typical fertilizing spermatozoa to the receptaculum seminis. In the male ejaculatory duct both kinds of spermatozoa are wrapped with extra‐cellular sleeves that presumably protect them on their way to the receptaculum. Typical spermatozoa “hatch” from the sleeves before leaving the receptaculum to fertilize the eggs. The presence of a centriole in the extra‐testicular spermatozoa of this species supports the generalization that insect spermatozoa do have a centriole at the base of the flagellum.