A Text-book of Entomology: Including the Anatomy, Physiology, Embryology and Metamorphoses of Insects for Use in Agricultural and Technical Schools and Colleges as Well as by the Working EntomologistPackard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)
Science
A Text-book of Entomology: Including the Anatomy, Physiology, Embryology and Metamorphoses of Insects for Use in Agricultural and Technical Schools and Colleges as Well as by the Working Entomologist
Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)
Insects
These temporary fine glandular hairs are probably the homologues of the
larger true glandular bristles and spines of the later stages of certain
lepidopterous larvæ, which are brightly colored and lead an exposed
life, living through a large part of the summer. In these structures the
bristles or spines are hollow, filled with a poisonous secretion formed
in a single large, or several smaller specialized hypodermal cells
situated under the base of the spine. In the venomous spines of _Lagoa
crispata_ the poisonous fluid in the larger spines (Figs. 215, _C_, 216,
_b_) is secreted in several large cells situated at the base of the
spine, and this is the usual form. In the finer spines of a large
tubercle (Figs. 215, _A_, 216) there appears to be a differentiation of
the hypodermal cells into two kinds, the large, basal deep-seated,
setigenous cells (216, _sc_) and the poison-secreting nuclei (216,
_pglc_) situated nearer the base of the setæ. The spines being filled
with poison and breaking into bits in the skin of the hands or neck,
cause great irritation and smarting. These nettling or poisonous hairs
or spines are especially venomous in the larva of Orgyia, _Empretia
stimulea_, _Hyperchiria io_, the larvæ of the saturnians (Fig. 217) and
lasiocampids, etc. They rarely occur in insects of other orders, though
the skin of Telephorus is said by Leydig to bear glandular hairs.
[Illustration:
FIG. 216.—Section of a subdorsal tubercle from a larva in stage 1:
_sc_, the setigenous cells, one for each seta; _pglc_, nuclei by
which the poison is secreted; _s_, seta; _p_, poison in middle of a
broken spine; _cut_, cuticle; _sd_, _tub_, spinulated surface of the
subdorsal tubercle.
]
Leydig states that in the stout bristles of Saturnia there is, as in
the integument of the body, a homogeneous cuticula, under which is
the cellular matrix (hypodermis), and the clear contents
(hyaloplasma) are secreted from the blood. The cell-structure of the
hairs consist, as in the cells of the body, of spongioplasma and
hyaloplasma. Leydig has observed the droplets of the secretion of
the caterpillar of _Saturnia carpini_ oozing through distinctly
observable pores, and states that there are similar openings in the
hairs and scales. Dewitz found easily observable openings at the end
of the hair of a large exotic weevil (Fig. 130).
The advanced nymph of Psylla is also armed with clavate glandular
hairs (Fig. 178).
[Illustration:
FIG. 217.—Armature of last four segments of _Callosamia promethea_:
_a_, a dorsal seta; _b_, one showing the poison (_p_) within.
]
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