Morphogenesis of the wing Anlagen in the mealworm beetle tenebrio molitor during the last larval instar

Abstract

The wing Anlagen of Tenebrio develop from epidermal cells located on the lateral margins of meso- and metathoraces. Three to four days after larval ecdysis, these cells start to proliferate slowly, continuing to do so until day 13 which corresponds to the period of the pupal commitment of the remaining epidermis. The wing Anlagen cells then proliferate rapidly until day 18.5. Three days before pupal ecdysis, the mitotic index falls suddenly while 40% of the Anlagen cells disappear owing to cell degeneration. The sudden changes observed in the mitotic index are correlated with two hemolymphatic peaks in ecdysteroid levels. Anlagen of the forewings and hindwings show similar development except for cuticular secretion at the end of the instar which is greater on the upper face of the forewings. A comparison is made with imaginal discs and histoblasts described in other holometabolous insects.