What is the name of the specialized organ used by female insects to lay eggs?

• A. Mandibles
• B. Proboscis
• C. Wings
• D. Ovipositor

Answer: (D)

The organ used by female insects to lay eggs is called the ovipositor. It’s a specialized structure at the end of the abdomen that deposits eggs into appropriate locations—soil, plant tissue, wood, or even inside hosts in parasitic species. Its form varies a lot: some ovipositors are simple and drill into substrates, while others are long and slender for precise placement. In many groups, the same structure can be modified in females to become a stinger for defense, showing how evolution can repurpose a feature for different uses. This is distinct from mandibles (used for biting), a proboscis (used for feeding on liquids), or wings (used for flying), whose primary roles are not egg-laying.