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Egg of the Karner Blue butterfly ( Lycaeides melissa samuelis ): Morphology and elemental analysis
Author(s) -
Nickles Elizabeth P.,
Ghiradella Helen,
Bakhru Hassaram,
Haberl Arthur
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1079
Subject(s) - eggshell , biology , morphology (biology) , butterfly , vitelline membrane , anatomy , zoology , ecology , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , oocyte
Most insect eggshells are ornately sculptured; that of the Karner Blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis , exhibits a series of interwoven ridges and depressions. Scanning electron microscopic views of the shell show that the patterning resides in the outer chorion, while the inner vitelline membrane is relatively flat and featureless. We here describe the morphology of the egg and introduce a physical technique, use of a Dynamitron accelerator, to identify and localize elements in the eggshell. Most elements present are represented in the chorion, but sulfur appears restricted to the vitelline membrane. The micropyle is particularly rich in calcium and, in unhatched eggs, phosphorus as well. J. Morphol. 251:140–148, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.