An improved method for the culture of wing discs of the wingless bagworm moth, Eumeta variegata (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

Adults of the wingless bagworm moth, Eumeta variegata, show remarkable sexual dimorphism. Final-instar larvae of the male have invaginated wing discs, whereas those of the female are rudimentary. To determine the best method for culturing the wing discs of E. variegata, which in both sexes are attac...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shuhei NIITSU, Saori LOBBIA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2010-10-01
Series:European Journal of Entomology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-201004-0024_An_improved_method_for_the_culture_of_wing_discs_of_the_wingless_bagworm_moth_Eumeta_variegata_Lepidoptera_P.php
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Summary:Adults of the wingless bagworm moth, Eumeta variegata, show remarkable sexual dimorphism. Final-instar larvae of the male have invaginated wing discs, whereas those of the female are rudimentary. To determine the best method for culturing the wing discs of E. variegata, which in both sexes are attached to the larval integument, two methods of culturing the larval wing discs are compared. Initially, a stationary culture was used. In these cultures necrotic cells and degeneration of wing discs of males were sporadically observed. By contrast, many small vacuoles were observed in the female wing rudiment under these conditions. In order to overcome some of the problems associated with stationary culture, rotating culture was used and resulted in the wing discs of males and females remaining in good condition. A histological analysis revealed that the wing disc morphology was normal when they were cultured in this way. These results indicate that rotating the culture medium is the better procedure for studying the action of hormones on the differentiation and metamorphosis of reduced wing rudiments in E. variegata.
ISSN:1210-5759
1802-8829