Objective Tirumala limniace is a kind of important ornamental insects. To understand the structure and developmental state of internal reproductive organs can lay a theoretical basis for artificial reproduction and utilization of T. limniace.

Method The internal reproductive system of female T. limniace with ages from one- to twelve-day old were dissected and observed, the characteristic parameters were measured, and the ovarian development was graded according to the developmental characteristics of ovary.

Result (1) The internal reproductive organs of female T. limniace contain a couple of ovaries, a couple of lateral oviducts, a common oviduct, bursa copulatrix gland and spermatheca. (2) The development of internal reproductive organ was influenced significantly by age. The length of ovariole increased significantly with the age increasing and reached the maximum at the10th day, but the diameter of ovariole and lateral oviduct increased slowly with the increase of age. (3) With the increase of age, the amount of mature eggs in ovary increased at initial and then deduced, but the amount of immature eggs increased slowly all the time. (4) Based on the developmental characteristics, the ovarian development can be divided into 5 grades, i.e. milky and translucent stage, yolk deposition stage, egg maturation stage, peak stage of oviposition and final stage of oviposition.

Conclusion The structure of internal reproductive system of female T. limniace is the same as other butterflies, the development of internal reproductive organs is influenced significantly by age, and the eggs mature gradually with the increase of age. Ovarian grading of T. limniace can theoretically guide the artificial control of egg laying amount.