title: Morphology of the European species of the aphid genus Eulachnus (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae) - A SEM comparative and integrative study.
abstract: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods were used for the first time to elucidate the external morphology of the European species of the genus Eulachnus (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae), a representative genus of the conifer-feeding aphids tribe Eulachnini. We examined and compared the external morphology of apterous and alate viviparous females from the parthenogenetic generation as well as oviparous females and alate males belonging to the sexual generation. FE-SEM images based on HMDS and cryo-SEM preparation techniques revealed better image quality than the CPD technique in regard to surface tension and morphological signs of cell deteriorations (i.e., existence of depressions, drying artifacts and membrane blebs). Three morphologically different species groups "agilis", "brevipilosus" and "cembrae" were proposed due to the differences in head, antennae, legs and dorsal chaetotaxy as well as dorsal sclerotization. The most characteristic features and differences of representatives of these groups are presented and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; Faculty for Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: mkanturski@us.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanturski
authors.affiliation: Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Jagiellońska 28, 40-032 Katowice, Poland; Faculty for Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jagna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karcz
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland; Faculty for Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wieczorek
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D001042:Aphids / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
keywords: Aphids; CPD; Chaetotaxy; Cryo-SEM; HMDS; Pine-pest; SEM