Female cave insects have 'penises'

18 April 2014 Last updated at 05:51 By James Morgan Science reporter, BBC News The erectile organ is inserted into males to suck out sperm and food Female insects with "penises" have been discovered in Brazil - the first example of an animal with sex-reversed genitalia, scientists say.

Neotrogla females insert the erectile organs into males' vagina-like openings.

The elaborate structure, dubbed a "gynosome", is used to suck out sperm and nutritious seminal fluids.

Copulation lasts an impressive 40-70 hours, the researchers report in Current Biology.

"Although sex-role reversal has been identified in several different animals, Neotrogla is the only example in which the intromittent organ is also reversed," said lead author Kazunori Yoshizawa from Hokkaido University in Japan.

The female is always on top during copulation - which lasts up to 70 hours

The gender-bending insects were found in a cave in eastern Brazil and represent four distinct species in the Neotrogla genus.

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"It will be important to unveil why, among many sex-role-reversed animals, only Neotrogla evolved the elaborated female penis”

End Quote Yoshitaka Kamimura Keio University, Japan Once inside a male, the membranous part of the female gynosome inflates. It has numerous spines which anchor the two insects together.

When the researchers attempted to pull a male and female apart, the male's abdomen was ripped from the thorax without breaking the genital coupling.

The unusual role reversal may have been driven by the resource-poor cave environment in which the bugs live, the researchers speculate.

Copulation provides a female with food as well as sperm - so it is advantageous for her to mate at a higher rate, they note.

The curious insects offer new opportunities to test ideas about sexual selection, conflict between the sexes, and the evolution of novelty.

"It will be important to unveil why, among many sex-role-reversed animals, only Neotrogla evolved the elaborated female penis," said Yoshitaka Kamimura from Keio University in Japan.

Their first task, they say, is to establish a healthy population of the insects in the lab.

A close-up of the insects in copulation

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Female Subjects Needed for ASU-UNC Metabolism Study

Appalachian State University and UNC-Chapel Hill are partnering on a study to determine the impact of ingesting black pepper on your metabolism. They are testing the hypothesis that as little as 2/3 teaspoon of black pepper could increase metabolism by 100 calories. They are looking for subjects for this study – you need to be a non-smoking, post-menopausal female age 50-65. Participants will be paid $200 for their efforts. For more criteria and information on the study, read below.

RECRUITMENT INFORMATION FOR A RESEARCH PROJECT:    

The Effect of Black Pepper on Your Metabolism

Principal Investigators:

David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM,  Director of the Human Performance Lab at the NCRC and Professor, Appalachian State University;   Andrew G. Swick, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition, Director of Obesity and Eating Disorders Research, UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute.

What is the purpose of this research?

Spices are natural food additives that have been used for thousands of years to season foods and promote health.  People in the United States take in on average about 300 mg (1/8 teaspoon) of black pepper per day.  Human studies with black pepper use up to 1,500 mg/day (2/3 teaspoon), and this amount will be used in this study.  Some animal studies suggest that black pepper increases the resting metabolism (thus countering weight gain). The purpose of this study is to measure whether or not eating 1,500 mg of black pepper during one day will increase the resting metabolism (i.e., the number of calories your body burns to support life).

Who can take part in this research?

You are invited to take part in this research if you are a healthy, nonsmoking post-menopausal female (ages 50 to 65 years), and not carrying more than 60 extra pounds of body weight.  You also do not exercise at high levels, have no known sensitivity or allergic reaction to eating black pepper, do not abuse drugs or alcohol, are not taking herbal supplements or medications that influence blood pressure and inflammation, and are accustomed to eating breakfast and meat.

What will I be asked to do?

The research project will be conducted at the Nutrition Research Institute at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, NC (500 Laureate Way). You will need to come to the Nutrition Research Institute a total of three times during the study.  The first visit will take about 60 minutes, and the second and third visits one day each, and will take place on selected dates through the summer of 2011.  During the first visit at the Nutrition Research Institute, you will be given an orientation to the study, complete several questionnaires, provide a small blood sample, and have your body composition measured.  During the second and third visits (one day each, and one week apart), you will stay and sleep in the metabolic chamber (a small room with a bed and restroom connected to energy measuring equipment).  One of the two days in the metabolic chamber will include 1,500 mg black pepper, and the other day will be exactly the same but without black pepper.  A blood sample will be collected at 2:00 pm during each metabolic chamber session.  The schedule in the metabolic chamber will be as follows:

7:30 am:   Report to the UNC Metabolic Chamber in an overnight fasted state (no food or beverage other than water from 11:00 pm).  You will remain seated and in a resting state as much as possible.  You can read, write and use a cell phone and laptop computer (Internet service provided).  A supervisor will be present at all times.

9:00 am:   Breakfast (provided from the research kitchen through an airlock chamber).

1:30 pm:   Lunch (provided).

2:00 pm:  A blood sample will be taken (analyzed for hormones that influence your metabolism).

7:00 pm: Supper (provided).

10:30 pm to 6:30 am: Bedtime, sleep

7:15 am: Leave the metabolic chamber.

Compensation

Your will receive $200 for following all study procedures, and receive results on your body composition and metabolism.

TO SIGN UP:  Send an e-mail message to ASU-NCRC@appstate.edu or call Tondra Blevins at 704-250-5035.

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