Dorsal Disks of Adult Male Greenhouse Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae)
| Autor: | Samuel M. Newman, John G. Riemann |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1995 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 88:512-518 |
| ISSN: | 1938-2901 0013-8746 |
| DOI: | 10.1093/aesa/88.4.512 |
| Popis: | A histological study was made of dorsal disks (discoidal pores) and associated epidermal cells located on the dorsal surface of abdomens of males of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood). A mean of ≈145 dorsal disks occurred on each abdomen. Externally each disk appeared as a circular cuticular tubercle with a diameter of ≈3.5 μm. Internally, there was a lumen that extended downward and laterally beneath the cuticle. A cuticular network partially subdivided the lumen into 2 parts. Each tubercle and lumen was associated with a single epidermal cell having approximately the same thickness as adjacent epidermal cells. Secretory granules, formed in sequestered portions of cytoplasm, were released into the lumen and eventually to the exterior through pores at each of several pits on the surface of each tubercle. Membrane whorls were characteristic features of the secretory granules as they moved to the apices of the cells. Histochemical tests indicated the presence of proteinaceous and lipid material in the lumen. These results correlated well with the membrane whorls and associated material seen with the transmission electron microscope. Other considerations, such as the presence of only small amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum, suggested that the secretion was primarily lipid. No direct evidence was found concerning the function of the secretory material from the dorsal disks. A reproductive role, such as male recognition by the female, would be one possibility. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|