 The love dart is not a penial stylet ( in other words this is not an accessory organ for sperm transfer ) . The exchange of sperm between both of the two land snails is a completely separate part of the mating progression . Nevertheless , recent research shows that use of the dart can strongly favor the reproductive outcome for the snail that is able to lodge a dart in its partner . This is because mucus on the dart introduces a hormone @-@ like substance that allows far more of its sperm to survive . 
