The External Morphology of the Eggs of Culex (Culex) saltanensis (Diptera: Culicidae) Under Scanning Electron Microscopy

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to describe the morphology of the eggs of Culex (Culex) saltanensis Dyar that occurs in the Neotropical region. Eggs of the Cx. (Cux.) saltanensis were collected at the Mata Atlântica FIOCRUZ campus, fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, prepared for mounting on metal supports, observed under a scanning electron microscope, and described morphologically. The eggs had a coniform shape with a length of approximately 0.5 mm (505–510 µm) and a width in the median portion of 117 µm (113–123 µm). Upper portion is lined with tubers of irregular shape and varying sizes (0.64–1.31 µm), located on a cross-linked matrix forming bands observed under optical microscopy. The micropyle is encased in a necklace of approximately 6.6-µm plates arranged in a flower-like shape. Comparing Cx. (Cux.) saltanensis eggs with several species of different genera, important divergent characteristics can be observed. However, this study points to the need for new descriptions of eggs of species belonging to the same subgenus in order to analyze if there will be differences between them. Culex (Cux.) saltanensis eggs have particular characteristics not observed in eggs of other Culicidae genera.

Adverse effects of knocking down chitin synthase A on female reproduction in Culex pipiens pallens (Diptera: Culicidae)

“…8, we observed a very similar eggshell ultrastructure to other SEM studies. 26,36 In the control group, the exochorionic outermost layer of the eggshell was characterized by the tubercular wheel, consisting of multiple exochorionic bridges (Ebs) connecting a single protruding central tubercle (Ct) and several peripheral tubercles (Pts). The tubercular wheel has various shapes, such as a quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, and heptagon.…”