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The surface of spiders' eggs
Author(s) -
Humphreys W. F.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1983.tb02312.x
Subject(s) - biology , spider , spheres , matrix (chemical analysis) , range (aeronautics) , insect , zoology , morphology (biology) , ecology , physics , materials science , astronomy , composite material
The spheres on the chorion of spider eggs are examined by electron microscopy from 14 species in eight families. The spheres vary in surface morphology but are mostly smooth. The spheres are either attached to the chorion by a chemically distinct matrix substance or remote from the chorion where they may be joined by a network of the matrix substance. Sphere size (0.14–10.8 μm) has no phylogenetic significance but the frequency distribution of sphere size appears to be characteristic of a species. The range of structures of the egg sac and the chorion features are presented diagrammatically and an attempt made to assess their functional and dynamical properties.