Developmental Changes of Ecdysteroids in the Eggs of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

Ecdysteroids were studied in relation to embryonic development and diapause of the silkworm, Bombyx mori . The majority of the ecdysteroids was found to be in the conjugated form, and minor part, in the free form. In the developing eggs, 2-deoxyecdysone, 2-deoxy-20-hydroxy-ecdysone and 3-epi-ecdysone were found to have the free ecdysteroid form as well as the conjugated ecdysteroid form. Ecdysone and 20-hydroxyecdysone almost exclusively had the conjugated form. The concentration of ecdysteroids in the embryo was higher than that in yolkplasm in the early embryonic stages. During the embryonic diapause, the concentration of free ecdysteroids decreased to a low level while the conjugated form maintained the original level.     

The metatibial extensor and flexor tendons in Coleoptera

The metatibiae of genera in several families of Coleoptera with enlarged metafemora are examined, including Chrysomelidae (Alticinae, Galerucinae, Sagrinae), Bruchidae (Pachymerinae, Rhae-binae, Eubaptinae, Bruchinae), Scirtidae and Oedemeridae. There is an evident pattern concerning the relative size of the tibial extensor and flexor tendons that is dependent on the type of hind leg movement of a specific beetle group. Beetle groups that jump (e.g. Alticinae, Scirtidae) always have a greatly enlarged metatibial extensor tendon and associated musculature. However, other groups with swollen metafemora that do not jump have enlarged metatibial flexor tendons with the associated musculature for holding/grasping onto the vegetation (Sagrinae, Bruchidae) or onto the female during copulation (male Oedemera). This indicates a strong functional relationship between Sagrinae and Bruchidae, both with large flexor tendons, and between the Alticinae and Galerucinae, with relatively large extensor tendons; these two cases may also have phylogenetic meaning. This pattern of the metatibial extensor and flexor tendon size related to function is presumably true for at least all other Coleoptera.     

Comparative morphology of the tibial flexor and extensor tendons in insects

Abstract. The relative size, orientation, and degrees of sclerotization of the tibial flexor and extensor tendons are compared in nineteen orders of insects. The sclerotized, independently movable tibial flexor sclerite, known previously only from Alticinae and Carabidae (Coleoptera), is found in some other Coleoptera, Megaloptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera and Heteroptera. The Heteroptera also have another small sclerite at the base of the tibial extensor tendon. The tibial flexor sclerite is presumed to provide additional strength and leverage to the flexion of the tibia in certain insect groups; it may also provide protection for the ventral side of the femoro-tibial joint of the leg.