Ventral exocrine gland of larva of Spodoptera (Prodenia) litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
The morphological and histological structure of the ventral exocrine gland of the larva of the tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera (Prodenia) litura (Fab.) is shown. The proximal region of the gland is capable of protrusion through the prothoracic sternal slit as an elongate organ reaching upto the spinneret. The middle region of the gland shows characteristic giant cells in only one of the walls of the epithelium, while the distal region shows a thin flat epithelium with small round closely situated nuclei resting against the tunica propria. The gland probably secretes a gummy fluid for larval movements rather than a stinking odourous fluid for defense.
D000818:Animals; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011679:Pupa / Q000033:anatomy & histology