The structure of extremely long mouthparts in the aphid genusStomaphisWalker (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae).
Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy were used to elucidate the morphology of labium and mandibular and maxillary stylets of the aphidsStomaphis quercus(L.) andS. graffiiCholodkovsky. The mechanism of labium shortening associated with feeding process was described as well.Stomaphis quercus andS. graffiihave cone-shaped labium of 13 and 10 mm in length, respectively, that strongly extend behind the abdomen. The stylets bundle comprises a pair of mandibular and maxillary stylets which are on average as long as labium. Serial cross sections of labium revealed that the first segment is inverted inside and the second is pulled into it; both segments are shifted into abdomen. This study provides new information onS. quercusandS. graffiimouthparts that may help to understand their feeding behavior.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
Jolanta
J
Brożek
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
Ewa
E
Mróz
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
Dominika
D
Wylężek
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
Łukasz
Ł
Depa
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
Piotr
P
Węgierek
Feeding; Labium; Mandibles; Maxillae; Morphology