Studies on the silk glands of Calpodes ethlius stoll, (Lepidoptera, hesperiidae)

Abstract

A B S T R A C TEach silk gland of Calpodes ethlius consists of five distinct regions: the duct, the green, anterior, middle and posterior regions. Although the gland increases approximately tenfold in length during the larval life, the number of cells remains constant with a concomitant increase in ploidy which is not constant either throughout larval life or in the different regions of the gland.Histochemistry on the glands of the mid-fifth instar larva shows that progressively more mucosubstances are deposited in the lumen, so that while in the distal regions there is only one weakly acidic deposit, this is increased to three more acidic bands in the proximal regions. These bands can be correlated with materials of different electron density. All five regions have characteristic secretory ultrastructure, with prominent secretory vesicles or granules and microvilli. However, the posterior and middle regions have electron-translucent vesicles and relatively short microvilli, while the other three regions have electron dense granules and a more complex, microvillate apical surface. This complexity is greatest in the duct which suggests that it may function in water reabsorption.

Histochemical and ultrastructural evidence of lipid secretion by the silk gland of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

“…The ultrastructural analysis of this region 3A and B), visualized as homogeneous material not bounded by membrane. The content of the apical secretory granules Discussion Wiley & Lai-Fook 1974, Engster 1976.…”

“…, the gland morphology of several other insect papers emphasize the morphology of the secretory cells and sericin (Wiley & Lai-Fook 1974, Engster 1976, Silva-Zacarin et al 2003. Lai-Fook 1974, Silva-Zacarin et al elements of the silk in insect gland, either into the lumen or in Lai-Fook 1974, Engster 1976.…”

“…Lai-Fook 1974, Silva-Zacarin et al elements of the silk in insect gland, either into the lumen or in Lai-Fook 1974, Engster 1976. The presence of lipid in the silk the histochemical detection of lipids in the secretion of the The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius), is an important pest of sugarcane and many others crops (Long & Hensley 1972 (Hensley & Hammond 1968) …”

Ultramorphology and histology of the larval salivary gland of Pachycondyla villosa (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Ponerinae)

“…The larval salivary glands of P. villosa have been found to differ from those described for Diptera larvae (Phillips & Swift 1965, Harrod & Kastritsis 1972, Riparbelli et al 1993, Riparbelli et al 1994, Lepidoptera (Cruz-Landim 1973, Wiley & Lai-Fook 1974, Akai 1983, Sorour et al 1990, Victoriano 1998) and for those of other Hymenoptera -Aculeata, such as bees of the Apis genera (Nelson 1924, Cruz-Landim & Mello 1969 Cruz-Landim & Mello 1981) in that they possess a reservoir and have two secretory tubes, ending in a "blunt bottom", at each side of the body, therefore not ending in a "loop". Compared to the wasps Vespula germanica L. (Edwards 1980), Pseudopolybia vespiceps (de Saussure), Mischocyttarus atramentarius Zikan, Polistes versicolor Oliver and Occipitalia traili (Cameron.)…”

Cytochemical changes in the silk gland cells ofPericallia ricini (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

“…The presence of PAS -positive and acidic mucosubstances in the silk gland cells of Calpodes ethlius has been observed (Wiley and Lai-Fook 1974). These were confined to the basal cytoplasm and were characterised to be responsible for cohesiveness and viscosity of the silk contents in the lumen of the gland.…”