ISSN:
0362-2525
Keywords:
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Cell & Developmental Biology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
The hatching threads of praying mantis embryos are silk-like in appearance, but cellular in origin. Their development can be divided into four phases. In phase 1 each embryonic cercus produces a hollow column of cells which is pushed out dorso-laterally, on either side of the embryo, between the epidermis and the chorion. In phase 2 each column becomes transformed into an unbroken helical cellular filament. The terminal five or six cells at the distal end of each filament become permanently attached to the inner surface of the chorion. The cellular arrangement of the filament is superseded by an apparent syncytial condition. In phase 3 the extensive proximal parts of the two filaments become folded into a compact space, flanked by the cerci and styli, at the tip of the abdomen. Throughout phase 4 the filaments remain in two tightly coiled groups, connected to the chorionic attachments by loosely coiled distal regions. Progressive secretion of chitin by, and around, each filament forms a sheath, 1-2 μ thick, which provides the tensile component of the hatching threads. During emergence these threads become unravelled to form a double thread which allows the insect to hang from the ootheca and complete its first ecdysis.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051290304
