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Title: A new gland associated with the retrocerebral complex of the adult corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea

Author
item Raina, Ashok
item Murphy, Charles

Submitted to: Anthropod Management Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2008
Publication Date: 5/15/2008
Citation: Raina, A.K., Murphy, C.A. A new gland associated with the retrocerebral complex of the adult corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea. Anthropod Management Journal doi:10.1016/j.asd.20087.05.001

Interpretive Summary: A new gland-like structure is reported to be found in the head of the corn earworm moth. This structure was not found in all of the species of moths examined. The spherical body is very small and is connected to an important gland and a nerve. Its structure at the electron microscopic level is indicative that it may be glandular in nature. At this time we have no evidence as to the function of this gland. The information will be important to many insect morphologists and physiologists.

Technical Abstract: We report the discovery of a putative new gland associated with the retrocerebral complex in the adults of Helicoverpa zea. The gland was not observed in Manduca sexta and few other species of moths. The pair of glands, each 40-60 µm in diameter, is located on either side of the recurrent nerve. Each gland is connected on one end through a fine nerve to the nervi corporis cardiaci-3 (NCC-3) and at the opposite end to the corpora allata through a thin fiber. The gland is composed of a giant cell with a large nucleus. The cytoplasm has an abundance of mitochondria in addition to dense bodies, electron lucent spheres, concentric whorls of rough endoplasmic reticulum and few vacuoles. At this stage we have no idea as to the function of this new gland.