Mounting of Genitalia in Drosophila Melanogaster

Description
The genital plate is located in the abdominal region of the male and female flies, but in the males the genital plate is more prominent and used as a copulatory pad. It is also called the epandrium. The genital plate is horseshoe-shaped, and it is bent in the posterior region. It is divided into 2 parts, the heel and the toe.

Inside the arch, a pair of anal plates and a pair of primary claspersis are present. On the primary claspers, 6–19 dark spines, or bristles are present, which are very thick. Their number is species-specific. The main function of the genital plate is to hold the female to transfer the sperm into her genital organ during copulation.

Materials

• Male flies
• 1N HCl
• Cresosote solution
• Cavity slides
• Glycerine
• Cover slips

Procedure

1. Remove the last abdominal segment of the male Drosophila melanogaster.
2. Transfer the segment into 1N HCl taken in a cavity slide and allow it to sit for 15 minutes.
3. Blot out the HCl, use 2 or 3 drops of cresote solution, and allow it to sit for about 20 minutes.
4. Remove the pellicle organ and clean the genital plate.
5. Transfer the genital plate onto a clean plain slide and mount the genital plate with glycerine