Anatomy of external structure and musculature of thoraces in the larva of the lepidopteran Pieris rapae crucivora

In Pieris rapae the external structure of meso‐ and metathoraces includes intersegmental folds as well as 4 transverse shallow grooves on the dorsal side and 2 on the ventral side in addition to several leg segments. The musculature of both segments is very similar, but has some segment‐specificity. Sixty‐seven muscle are common to both hemi‐mesothorax and hemimetathorax. Four are specific for the mesothorax and 3 for the metathorax. Moreover, thickness and number of subdivisions of some common muscles are specific for one segment. Attachments areas of all muscles are clearly indicated on the pattern of cuticular grooves. They have a tendency to pile up or line up to form various sizes of united attachment sites, most of which are located on or near the cuticular groove. On the other hand all grooves have some muscle attachment sites. Thus, attachments of larval muscles may relate to formation of the grooves. Comparison of the musculature with that previously reported for some lepidopteran larvae shows a major common basic plan and minor interspecific variation. Its attachment sites allow the role of each muscle to be inferred for body contraction, bending, and twisting, and for leg direction and flexion.