MORPHOLOGY AND HISTOLOGY OF THE FEMALE SEX PHEROMONE - GLAND OF EPHESTIA CAUTELLA WIk. (LEPIDOPTERA : NOCTUIDAE), A SERIOUS PEST OF STORED GRAINS
R. K. SETHI *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, GOVT. (PG). COLLEGE, CHHIND WARA - 480002 INDIA
O.P. JAIN *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, M.V.M., BHOPAL - 462026, INDIA.
B. D. GUPTA *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, GOVT. (PG). COLLEGE, CHHIND WARA - 480002 INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The sex pheromone gland of female Ephesia cautella Wik is a glandular fold of ventral inter-segmental membrane of 8th and 9th abdominal segments. The epithelial cello are columnar, well-developed and are based on a thin basement membrane. The epicuticle is thin, it is having hollow-based spikes all along its outer surface. The endocuticle is quite thick, situated below the epicuticle and above the columnar cells. Nuceli are well-developed and basally placed, vacuoles are found in the SPG of the Pre-copulatory virgin female. The SPG of E cautella in its location and structure is closely related with that of the Amphipyrinae (Noctuidae).