title: Description of the egg of Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus (Diptera: Culicidae) using variable pressure scanning electron microscopy.
abstract: The egg of Ochlerotatus japonicus japonicus (Theobald) is described with the aid of variable pressure scanning electron micrographs. The egg is black, cigar shaped, and tapers ventrally. The length is approximately 591 microm and the width is approximately 172 microm. The outer chorionic cells are irregular in shape, either hexagonal or pentagonal, and decrease in size toward the anterior and posterior poles. Ventral tubercles typically range from three to six and contact the chorionic reticulum. Dorsal tubercles contain two large tubercles with small oval-shaped tubercles grouped around them. A large thread-shaped tubercle extends from this grouping either as a single tubercle or as a series of connected tubercles. The micropylar collar is low and discontinuous and is seldom complete. This description will aid researchers in the identification of this invasive vector species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, 2431 Center Dr., 205 Ellington Plant Sciences Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-4560, USA. adhaddow@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Haddow
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Moulton
authors.forename: Reid R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McCuiston
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002823:Chorion / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D044969:Ochlerotatus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010063:Ovum / Q000648:ultrastructure*