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The retrocerebral endocrine organs of the adult lemon-butterfly; Papilio demoleus have been described. The organs are subaortic lying closely behind the brain. While the nervi corporis cardiaci I (NCCI) originate from the protocerebrum of the brain, the NCCII seem to take their origin in the tritocerebrum in common with another nerve named earlier as the tegumentary nerve. The corpora cardiaca (CC) and corpora allata (CA) are closely approximated to each other obliterating the nervi corporis allati (NCA) which are conspicuous in the larva of the same species. An intercardiacal bridge (ICB) connects the CC of the two sides and acts as a possible centre of distribution for the neurosecretory material (NSM) to the gut. Histological evidence suggests that the NSM inside the CC remains intraaxonal without being primarily unloaded in the organs for storage. The intrinsic secretory cell of the CC are intimately associated with the neurosecretory fibres from the brain and bear fairly thick axons. No NSM could be detected in the CA of this insect.

The retrocerebral endocrine organs, the corpora cardiaca and corpora allata were studied in different developmental stages of the lemon-butterfly. The organs were found to undergo several changes in respect of their position, size, structure and the number of nerves associated with them.

The histomorphology of the retrocerebral endocrine organs of the larva of the lemon-butterfly, P. demoleus has been described employing a conventional neurosecretory staining technique. The larval organs lie a little away from the brain and oesophagus and, therefore, are not sub-aortic in position unlike most other insects and the adult of this species itself. There are two long NCCs which innervate other target organs in addition to the CC. The recurrent nerve of the stomatogastric nervous system retains its normal connections with the CC even in absence of the hypocerebral ganglion. Histological evidence suggests that the NSM inside the CC remains intraaxonal without being possibly unloaded in the substance of these organs. Axonal transport of NSM to target organs is also in evidence and though NSM is seen in the NCA, it could not be detected inside the CA.