Androconium

Pronunciation
/an-droh-KOH-nee-uh/
Category
Anatomy
Singular
Androconium
Plural
Androconia

Definition

Specialized scales found on the wings of male butterflies and some moths, which release pheromones used to attract females during mating.

Etymology

From Greek 'andro-', meaning 'male', and 'konis', meaning 'dust' or 'powder'.

Example

The androconia of the Monarch butterfly are used to attract females during the mating season.

Synonyms

  • Scent scales

Related Terms

Usage Notes

Androconia are often found in patches and can vary in shape and size.