NEUROANATOMICAL STUDIES OF PROTHORACIC GLANDS OF COTTON BOLL WORM, HELICOVERPA ARMIGERA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

摘要

Gross anatomy, ultrastructure, innervation and ultrastructural alterations of the prothoracic gland (PTG) of cotton bollworm, Helicaverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are illustrated for the last larval and early pupal stages as observed by lightand electron microscopy. The T-shaped, paired (PTGs) consist each of 76-116 cells which are classified morphologically as large and small gland cells. In addition, another kind of small (about 6μ in diameter) gland cell was found in the PTGs of last instar larvae. The PTGs are innervated by the branches of 3 nerves; and tracheae and tracheoles are abundantly distributed to these glands. PTGs disappeared completely by the third day after ecdysis to the pupal stage (at temperature 28C with a photoperiod