SEM antics - some things you'll never see

Insect Gland Exoskeleton 
Cuticle Around Insect Gland

Insects often have intricately sculptured cuticles. This fly had a pretty smooth exoskeleton, except for this area around a pheromone gland. Probably the cuticle has this shape to provide for more surface area for the hormone that is secreted to flow and then evaorate. Pheremones are used to attract the other gender of the same species for mating.

 
    Return to home page or click related pages below...    

Spores    Termite    Fly Gland    Love Pollen    More Antics

 


Copyright © 1996-2000 Tina (Weatherby) Carvalho...MicroAngela
This material may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.