A Method for Thin Sectioning Heavily Sclerotized Cuticle ofOdontotaenius disjunctus

Abstract

Elytra of the bessbeetle, Odontotaenius disjunctus were thin sectioned after embedding in epoxy resin. Sections were cut with a diamond saw, ground to the desired thickness on a rotary grinder and polished. Tearing and distortion were reduced when compared to knifecut sections of heavily sclerotized cuticle.