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Fig. 5 | Zoological Letters

Fig. 5

From: Structure and development of the complex helmet of treehoppers (Insecta: Hemiptera: Membracidae)

Fig. 5

Helmet morphogenesis inside the nymphal helmet sheath in Antianthe expansa.a Surface view of last instar nymph of Antianthe expansa via micro CT scan. White window indicates sectioned region in B to G. b-g Sagittal section of last instar nymph. The developing adult helmet primordium is highlighted in blue. Schematic diagrams of developing helmet are shown in small windows in each panel. Black lines, red lines and blue lines indicate nymphal cuticle, upper layer and lower layer, respectively. b At an early stage of the last instar nymph (before apolysis), the helmet was a monolayer, sac-like structure. c Once apolysis started, the helmet epithelium detached from the nymphal cuticle. First, the lower layer of most posterior region detached, indicated by a white arrow. d Both upper and lower layer detached from the nymphal cuticle (yellow arrows and white arrow) and came together to form a thin, double-layered plate-like structure. eShrunken miniature of adult helmet has formed. At this stage a bi-layer septum also formed (blue arrowhead). f Miniature grows, probably by cell proliferation. During this stage both macro and micro furrows are developed. g Fully developed helmet primordium which fills the entire space of the helmet sheath. The bi-layer epithelial sheet is highly complex in three dimensions, so that it is difficult to understand its structure from a single section. h Schematic diagram of helmet development during the last instar nymph

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