Paraffin tubules secreted by the cuticle of an insect Epipyrops anomala (Epipyropidae: Lepidoptera)

• Published in: Journal of ultrastructure research Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 41 - 60
• Main Authors: Marshall, A.T., Lewis, C.T., Parry, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier B.V 01.04.1974
• Subjects: Alkanes - analysis; Alkanes - metabolism; Amino Acids - analysis; Animals; Histological Techniques; Insecta - anatomy & histology; Larva - anatomy & histology; Methods; Microscopy, Electron; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Models, Structural; Skin - cytology; Skin - metabolism; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; X-Ray Diffraction

The dorsal cuticle of late instar larvae of Epipyrops anomala is densely covered with tubules composed of a paraffin hydrocarbon of C 40 to C 50 chain length, together with a small protein fraction. The tubules are 3.5–6 μm in diameter and 300 times this in length. The tubule wall is pleated with 6–...