Mating plug

With Sphragis a horny structure of chitin is called on the abdomen of female butterflies, which is formed from a white secretion of the male moth after mating and even cures during mating. It prevents re- mating, can be several millimeters long and is located on the underside of the abdomen. Particularly pronounced it is in species of the subfamily Parnassiinae in the family of Swallowtail butterfly, occur the Red Apollo, the Clouded Apollo and the Alps Apollo in Central Europe.

The name comes from the ancient Greek σφραγίς, the seal. The German name Begattungstasche is not unique, since it is also used for the bursa copulatrix of invertebrates, which include the insects.