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Study on the anatomy of the pink mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) using stereo microscopy

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Abstract

An internal anatomy of the adult female pink mealybug, Maconelicoccus hirsutus (Green) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae) was examined using stereo microscopy with an aim to explicate the alimentary canal, Malpighian tubules, nervous system, respiratory system and muscular arrangement at the morphological levels. Results revealed that the alimentary canal consisted of a foregut (pharynx and oesophagus), filter chamber, midgut (Dilated sac or stomach, anterior midgut and posterior midgut) and hind gut (Ileum and rectum). The filter chamber enclosed with posterior extremity of oesophagus, anterior midgut, posterior midgut, anterior extremity of ileum and rectum. A pair of well-developed salivary glands were located both the sides of oesophageal tube. Two Malpighian tubules, almost the length of insect body run alongside the hindgut. Nervous system mainly composed of supraoesophageal ganglion, suboesophageal ganglion and thoracicoabdominal ganglion. Tracheal trunks emerged from four spiracles were surrounded by wax glands on its basal region. Reproductive system composed of a pair of tube like ovaries, many number of ovarioles on ovariole buds and short globular shape spermatheca. Ventral longitudinal muscles emerged from thoracic furca, were arranged in diamond shape on ventral floor while innervating mouth, leg and genital region. The study provides an insight about the arrangement of internal organs and their morphological features of pink mealybug.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Central Silk Board and Seri-biotech Research laboratory (SBRL), Kodathi, Bangalore for providing a research grant in the form of Project (Project code: AIC08009CN) and for providing facilities to carry out the study.

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  1. Seri-Biotech Research Laboratory (SBRL), Carmelram Post, 560035, Kodathi, Bangalore, India

    Channabasava Veershetty, Harshitha Prakash, Pawan Shukla & Kangayam M. Ponnuvel

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  1. Channabasava Veershetty
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  2. Harshitha Prakash
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  3. Pawan Shukla
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Correspondence to Pawan Shukla.

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Veershetty, C., Prakash, H., Shukla, P. et al. Study on the anatomy of the pink mealybug Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) using stereo microscopy. Int J Trop Insect Sci 43, 861–867 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-023-00993-w

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