spermatheca
/ˌspɜrməˈθikə/
noun
- A small sac or organ in female insects and some other animals that stores sperm after mating.
- Scientists studied the spermatheca of a beetle to understand its reproductive cycle.
- The queen bee stores sperm in her spermatheca for years.
- After mating, the female ant's spermatheca holds the male's sperm until she uses it to fertilize eggs.