The new technique for scanning the surface of the transparent cuticle of the live first-instar Nidularia balachowskii Bodenheimer (Hemi.: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha: Kermesidae) under a light microscope.
عنوان دوره: دومین کنگره بین المللی حشره شناسی ایران
نویسندگان
چکیده
Abstract
The adult females of Kermesidae scale insects have their derm highly sclerotized. Regard to this, taxonomy of this group is based on microscopic morphological characters of the first-instars that can be studied only at high magnification under a light microscope. Most of the cuticular surface topography disappears during conventional slide-mounting procedures [as Koteja argued with regard to the wings of male Margarodidae]. This paper describes an additional technique for use during the preparation of permanent slide mounts, using live specimens on microscope slides. This technique is suitable for studying cuticular surface patterns of small live insects including the first-instar nymphs of scale insects. This technique gives results that appear somewhat similar to those obtained using an Electron Microscopic Surface Scanning (EMSS), but clearly with some technical limitations. Observations under the light microscope are not a substitute for EMSS, but the practical advantages of the new technique as a routine method outweigh these limitations. With this study, it is possible to view the topography of the cuticle surface and several other characters and has proved useful in the study of first-instar nymphal N. balachowskii. This technique is an additional step to normal slide mounting, but does not allow study of such structures as dermal pores or tubular ducts; these can be seen later on the permanently mounted slide. These live mounted specimens have provided a new suite of characters that could provide new insights into the insects’ structure and phylogenetic relationships. The extra steps during slide preparations can be used routinely, do not require any sophisticated instrumentation, and do not permanently alter the specimens. Steps: (i) pick up a live specimen of first instar and place it on microscope slide. (ii) gently, place a coverslip over the live specimen for viewing with a microscope. (iii) using x10 to x40 magnifications and a maximum light levels. (iv) using the microscope equipped with digital camera for photography. The results including: the dorsal surface decorated by a segmentally repeated groups of circle cells pattern, which is unique for Kermesidae; the marginal seta with a prominent telescopic structure, basal cavity and shedded outer covering. The anal lobe setae also with a long slender basal stem has proved useful in the study of first-instar nymphal N. balachowskii. These characters are recorded for the first time by this complement technique. This is the first experimental evidence regarding the underlying alive insect.
The adult females of Kermesidae scale insects have their derm highly sclerotized. Regard to this, taxonomy of this group is based on microscopic morphological characters of the first-instars that can be studied only at high magnification under a light microscope. Most of the cuticular surface topography disappears during conventional slide-mounting procedures [as Koteja argued with regard to the wings of male Margarodidae]. This paper describes an additional technique for use during the preparation of permanent slide mounts, using live specimens on microscope slides. This technique is suitable for studying cuticular surface patterns of small live insects including the first-instar nymphs of scale insects. This technique gives results that appear somewhat similar to those obtained using an Electron Microscopic Surface Scanning (EMSS), but clearly with some technical limitations. Observations under the light microscope are not a substitute for EMSS, but the practical advantages of the new technique as a routine method outweigh these limitations. With this study, it is possible to view the topography of the cuticle surface and several other characters and has proved useful in the study of first-instar nymphal N. balachowskii. This technique is an additional step to normal slide mounting, but does not allow study of such structures as dermal pores or tubular ducts; these can be seen later on the permanently mounted slide. These live mounted specimens have provided a new suite of characters that could provide new insights into the insects’ structure and phylogenetic relationships. The extra steps during slide preparations can be used routinely, do not require any sophisticated instrumentation, and do not permanently alter the specimens. Steps: (i) pick up a live specimen of first instar and place it on microscope slide. (ii) gently, place a coverslip over the live specimen for viewing with a microscope. (iii) using x10 to x40 magnifications and a maximum light levels. (iv) using the microscope equipped with digital camera for photography. The results including: the dorsal surface decorated by a segmentally repeated groups of circle cells pattern, which is unique for Kermesidae; the marginal seta with a prominent telescopic structure, basal cavity and shedded outer covering. The anal lobe setae also with a long slender basal stem has proved useful in the study of first-instar nymphal N. balachowskii. These characters are recorded for the first time by this complement technique. This is the first experimental evidence regarding the underlying alive insect.
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