Recent Advances in Insect Embryology in Japan
Edited by H. Ando and K. Miya.
ISEBU Co. Ltd., Tsukuba 1985

215

Embryonic Development of the Nervous System
and Other Ectodermal Derivatives
in the Primitive Moth,
Endoclita sinensis (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae)
Masahiro TANAKA
Yukimasa K OBA YASHland
Hiroshi ANDO

Synopsis
The formation of the nervous system, oenocytes, spiracles, and pleuropodia in the embryo of thehepialid moth, Endoclita sinensis, is described. The ventral nerve cord originates in large part fromneuroblasts arising in 3 gnathal, 3 thoracic, and 10 abdominal segments. The median cord seems toparticipate in the formation of both transverse commissure and neurilemma of the ventral nerve cord.
The development of the brain is typical of insects. The stomatogastric nervous system develops from 3
evaginations in the dorsal wall of the stomodaeum. The anteriormost evagination gives rise to thefrontal ganglion, and the middle a!ld posterior ones the recurrent nerve and stomodaeal glands respectively. The corpus cardiacum seems to be derived from the posterior evagination. Oenocytes arise in thefust 8 abdominal segments. Spiracular invaginations appear in pro- and metathorax, and the first 9 abdominal segments, but the spiracles of the metathorax and the 9th abdominal segment degenerate during
the later embryonic stages. Invaginated pleuropodia are formed in the first abdominal segment.

Introduction
Although much embryological work has been done on the higher (ditrysian) Lepidoptera, nothing was known about the embryology of the primitive (non-ditrysian) Lepidoptera until several years ago. Since 1976, we have worked on the embryogenesis of theprimitive Lepidoptera, especially on the hepialid moths, Endoclita sinensis (This species has
been mistakenly treated as E. signifer Walker in Japan. Accordingly, all the name of E.
signifer recorded in our previous papers cited below must be changed to E. sinensis.) and216

Tanaka, M., Y. Kobayashi and H. AndoE. excrescesns, and the microperygid moth, Neomicropteryx nipponensis, and some of theresults have been published in several papers (Ando and Tanaka, 1976, 1980; Ando andKobayashi, 1978; Kobayashi et al., 1981; Kobayashi and Ando, 1981, 1982, 1983). In
our previous paper (Kobayashi et al., 1981) on the embryology of E. sinensis, we described
the changes in the external form of the embryo and the formation of the alimentary canal inthis species, but the embryogenesis of other organs remained undescribed.
This paper deals with the ectodermal organogenesis, i. e., the formation of the nervous
system, oenocytes, spirac1es, and pleuropodia, in the embryo of E. sinensis.

Materials and Methods
Eggs of various ages were fixed, sectioned, and examined according to procedures previously described by Ando and Tanaka (1980).
Stage numbers used in this paper correspond with those in our previous paper (Kobayashi
et al., 1981).

Observations
1.

Nervous system

In stage 6, neuroblasts appear first in the gnathal and then head and thoracic regions,and later in the abdominal one (Fig. 1). In stage 8, the brain, premandibular, three gnathal,
three thoracic, and ten abdominal ganglia become discernible (Fig. 2). The stomatogastricnervous system also shows a differentiation at this time. Then the premandibular ganglia
move forwards to lie at lateral sides 0.£ the stomodaeum and later become the tritocerebrum.
In stage 10, three gnathal ganglia, i. e., the mandibular, maxillary, labial, fuse together
to form the suboesophageal ganglion (Fig. 3). The frontal ganglion is also formed at thistime. In stage 11, the ninth and tenth abdominal ganglia fuse together (Fig. 5), and thenthe eighth abdominal ganglion unites with the former (Fig. 6), thus forming the definitive
eighth abdominal ganglion. When revolution of the embryo is completed, a fundamental
composition ofthe nervous system is established (Fig. 4).
Ventral nerve cord
Early in stage 6, neuroblasts first appear in the gnathal ectoderm on
both sides of the midline of the germ band. They are discernible in large size from otherectodermal cells. A little later, neuroblasts appear in the thoracic and the first two abdominal segments. Their appearance in posterior part of the abdomen occurs much later. The
number of lateral neuroblasts counts three to five in cross section, and five to seven in longitudinal section of each segment of the gnatho-thoracic region (Fig. 7). In the abdominal
region, their number is more reduced (Fig. 8). Neuroblasts also exist in the intersegmental
region until 50 hr after oviposition, but thereafter they move into the intrasegmental one.
When the neuroblasts appear, the primitive groove is retained on the ventral midline of
the germ band. However, as they begin to produce their daughter cells, the neural groove
appears and deepens, thereby they are divided into two lateral groups. The neural grooveEctodermal derivatives of Endoclita

fr.g

217

50g.g

ag1

5

1.

Longitudinal section of embryo at stage 6, showing distribution of neuroblasts.
Longitudinal section of embryo at stage 8, showing segmentation of neuroblasts.
3.
Longitudinal section of embryo at stage 10, showing formation of ganglia.
4. Longitudinal section of embryo at stage 14, showing definitive central nervous
system.
Longitudinal section through abdominal end at early stage 11.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Longitudinal section through abdominal end at late stage 11.
ag1, 8-10 1st, and 8th to 10th abdominal ganglion, br brain, fr. g frontal ganglion, mes)
mesoderm, nb neuroblast, pce protocephalon, pmd premandibular segment, pmd. g premandibular ganglion, prc protocerebrum, proc proctodaeum, sog. g suboesophageal ganglion, tg1 1st thoracic gaglion.
Fig.
Fig.
Fig.
Fig.

2.

218

Tanaka, M., Y. Kobayashi and H. Andois deep and narrow in the gnatho-thoracic region, but shallow and wide in the abdomen.
The botton of the neural groove then becomes the median cord. This change begins first in
the gnatho-thoracic region, and then in the posterior region of the germ band. The inter.
segmental median cord is wider than the intrasegmental one, and contains one or two neuroblasts which later undergo mitosis. The development of the median cord is delayed in theposterior region of the germ band.
The first mitoses of the neuroblasts are observed at about 50 hr after oviposition in thegnatho-thoracic region. Their spindle lies in the dorso-ventral direction, but in further divisions it turns right and left alternately. Accordingly the neuroblasts produce two columns ofdaughter or ganglion cells on themselves (Figs. 8, 9). In stage 9, the number of daughter
cells in each column counts six to seven in the gantho-thoracic region, and two to three in a
posterior part of the abdomen.
Early in stage 10, the neuropile develops in each of the gnatho-thoracic ganglia, and thentwo ganglia on both -sides of the median cord in each segment become connected by thetransverse commissures arching the median cord (Fig. 9). It seems probable that some cells
in the dorsal side of the median cord participate in the formation of the transverse commissure. The longitudinal connectives develop later than the commissure. The median cord
at this stage is in contact with the epidermis at the bottom of the neural groove, and its
structure retains the condition of early stages. The columnar ganglion cells above eachneuroblast are now arranged in other rule.
In the middle period of stage 10, walls of both sides of the neural groove meet each other,and then the groove disappears. A little later, the median cord detaches from the ventral
epidermis. The mesodermal cells covering the dorsal side of the ganglion disappear; consequently the transverse commissures become independent from neighbouring tissues. At
about 109 hr after oviposition, three gnathal ganglia fuse with each other and thus the suboesophageal ganglion is formed. The neuroblasts decrease in size and become as small as thedaughter cells except for one or two neuroblasts situated in the most lateral sides, but they
continue further divisions. Soon later, however, all the neuroblasts stop their division. The
neuropile, transverse commissures, and longitudinal connectives undergo further development, and the ganglia separate from the ventral epidermis completely.
Near the end of stage 10, a layer of cells appears on the dorsal surface of the neuropile.
This is the primordium of the neurilemma. It seems to be Originated from two components,
the one from the ganglion cells located at the most lateral side of the ganglion, and the otherfrom the median cord cells.
At the end of stage 11, certain flat cells are observed on the outer surface of the neuropile. They are the cells of the inner glial sheath. Similar cells are found in the area where
both lateral halves of the ganglion meet. At this time some cells of the median cord survive.
As development proceeds, the inner glial sheath becomes more conspicious especially in the
suboesophageal ganglion.

Brain

In stage 6, neuroblasts appear in the inner (dorsal) side of ectoderm of the pro tocephalic lobes. These form the anlage of the protocerebrum. In longitudinal sections, they
distribute uniformly throughout the pro to cephalic lobes (Fig. 10), but in cross sections
they are separable into three groups on each of the lobes, corresponding to three protocerebral lobes, of which the third (median) lobe is the largest (Fig. 11). The deutocerebral
anlage, which is composed of three neuroblasts at each hemisphere in a frontal section, arises

Ectodermal derivatives of Endoclita

7

l.nb

219

8

l.nb

10
m.nb

md

md.a

Fig. 7. Frontal section through mandibular and maxillary segments at stage 8.
Fig. 8. Cross section through 1st abdominal segment at stage 9.
Fig. 9. Cross section through mandibular segment at stage 10.
Fig. 10. Sagittal section through protocephalon and premandibular segments at stage 6.
Fig. 11. Cross section through protocephalon at stage 6.
asl 1st abdominal segment, l.nb lateral neuroblast, md mandibular segment, md.a mandibular appendage, mes mesoderm, m.nb median neuroblast, mx maxillary segment, ng
neural groove, np neuropile, pce protocephalon, pI 1-3 protocere brallo be 1 to 3, pmd
premandibular segment, pm.nb premandibular neuroblast, p.nb pro to cerebral neuroblast,stom stomodaeum.

220

Tanaka, M., Y. Kobayashi and H. Andoin the location between the stomodaeum and antennal rudiments (Fig. 12). The tritocerebral anlage appears in the premandibular or intercalary segment, whose condition isquite similar to that in the mandibular segment (Fig. 12).
At the end of stage 7, the pro to cephalic neuroblasts commence mitosis to produce theirdaughter or ganglion cells on the dorsum as observed in the ventral nerve cord formation. At
this time the three protocerebral lobes, vis., the median, lateral, and optic ones, become
clearly separable from each other. In the meantime the epithelium of the protocephaliclobes becomes thinner. The deutocerebral neuroblasts located in bases of the antennal
rudiments likewise produce their daughter cells. Meanwhile the premandibular segment ispushed forwards into the posterior part of the cephalic region. Consequently the mandibular segment becomes to situate between the antennal rudiments.
Early in stage 10, the cephalic region is filled by the ganglion cells. Its dorsal part is occupied by the protocerebrum, antero-Iateral sides of the stomodaeum by the deutocerebrum,and lateral sides of th..e stomodaeum by the tritocerebrum. On the inner side of each cerebral part, the neuropile appears and soon later its commissures and connectives develop.
In the middle period of stage 10, the supraoesophageal commissure is formed by the ganglion cells of the median protocebrallobes, which runs lateralwards crossing the dorsal sideof recurrent nerve of the stomatogastric nervous system. Meanwhile the protocerebral
neuropile become connected with the deutocerebral one of its own side. The deutocerebrum is connected posteriorly with the tritocerebrum, but lacks the transverse commissure(Fig. 13). The tritocerebrum is divided into two halves at lateral sides of the stomodaeum.
Its neuropiles are continuous to the suboesophageal commissure, and face to the oesophagus(Fig. 13). It sends, on the other hand, longitudinal nerve cords as the circumoesophageal
connectives to the sub oesophageal ganglion. The neuroblasts in each part of the brain, at
this time, become smaller, but they are discernible and some of them still undergo mitosis.
At the end of stage 10, the neurilemma becomes apparent on the surface of the brainneuropiles. Its origin seems to be most lateral ganglion cell. At this time most of the neuroblasts become indistinguishable from other ganglion cells, but one or two large ganglion cells
are found in the most lateral sides of the protocerebrum and of the deutocerebrum. These
are of neuroblast origin and seem to develop into the neurosecretory cells. They exist thereafter throughout the embryonic period.
The relative position of cerebral compoments alters accompanying revolution of theembryo. Before revolution, the pro to cerebrum is located at the most anterior position, andthen the deutocerebrum, tritocerebrum and sub oesophageal ganglion follow in this order.
When the revolution is finished, however, the protocerebrum shifts dorsalwards, so that the
deutocerebrum occupies the most anterior position among them. As development advances,
this dorso-posteriorward shift of the brain further continues resulting in that the protocerebrum and deutocerebrum come dorsal to the subeosophageal ganglion, and the tritocerebrum occupies the most anteroir position in the head capsule.

Stomatogastric nervous system
The stomatogastric nervous system arises in the dorsal
wall of the developing stomodaeum. It comprises the frontal ganglion, recurrent nerve, andstomodaeal glands. The last named glands later change into the corpus cardiacum.
In stage 7, the stomodaeal wall is thicker in the dorsal side than in the ventral, and thedorsal wall is covered by the mesoderm connected with the labral coelom (Fig. 14). At thistime two cell-masses, the anlagen of the stomodaeal glands, appear along the midline of theEctodermal derivatives of Endoclita

12

p.nb

Ir

221

13

d.g

Fig. 12. Frontal section through protocephalon at stage 7.
Fig. 13. Frontal section through cephalo-gnathal region at stage 10.
at antennal rudiment, dc deutocerebrum, d.nb deutocerebral neuroblast, fr.g frontal
ganglion, 1r labral rudiment, md mandibular segment, md.g mandibular ganglion, mx.g
maxillary ganglion, p.nb protocerebral neuroblast, sog.c suboesophageal commissure,stom stomodaeum, tc tritocerebrum, t.nb tritocerebral neuroblast.

Tanaka, M., Y. Kobayashi and H. Ando222

dorsal stomodaeal wall, the one at middle point, the other near the posterior end of the stomodaeum. At the anterior end of the dorsal stomodaeal wall another cell-mass composed of
two or three large cells is found. This is the rudiment of the frontal ganglion.
As development proceeds, the stomodaeal invagination rapidly deepens, and in stage 9,
the anlage of the frontal ganglion evaginates as a conspicuous cell-mass from the stomodaeum. The two anlagen of the stomodaeal glands likewise evaginate (Figs. 16, 17), and the recurrent nerves develop from both glands along the dorsal stomodaeal wall, bridging the frontal ganglion and stomodaeal glands.
Early in stage 10, the frontal ganglion detaches from the stomodaeal wall and the neuropile appears at its ventral side. The stomodaeal glands develop as somewhat flat ellipsoid
bodies on the dorsal midline of the stomodaeum, and their diameter in cross section is athird of that of the stomodaum. These bodies show a glandular character with radially scattered nuclei near the body surface (Fig. 18). The posterior stomodaeal gland is more developed than the anterior.
In the middle period of stage 10, the frontal ganglion is nearly completed and lies between two halves of the deutocerebrum, just anterior to the supraoesophageal commissure.
The frontal ganglion sends thick nerves from its anterior corner to the tritocerebrum, andreceives the recurrent nerve from the anterior stomodaeal gland at its postero-ventral end
which likewise receives at its dorsal side the recurrent nerve from the posterior stomodaeal
gland (Fig. 15). As development proceeds the stomodaeal glands lose their glandular
character, and at the end of stage 10, the anterior stomodaeal gland degenerates, and thenthe posterior one shrinks and detaches from the stomodaeal wall. As their degeneration proceeds, the cell multiplication occurs at the posterior end of the recurrent nerve and at thedorsal side of the degenerating stomodaeal glands, and these cells thus reconstruct a new cellmass. Early in stage 12, it lies as a flat ellipsoid body on the dorsum of posterior end of thestomodaeum. This is the anlage of the corpus cardiacum.

2.

Oenocytes

Early in stage 9, in each of the first to the eighth abdominal segment a pair of cell-mass
having large nuclei is observed in the ectoderm just posterior to the tracheal invagination(Figs. 19, 20). This is the anlage of the oenocytes. It then changes into a tissue composedof large cells with a large ellipsoid nucleus. As development proceeds, the nucleus decreases
in size, and the cytoplasm becomes eosinophil with an inconspicuous cell membrane. Accompanying the dorsal upgrouwth of body walls, the oenocytes move latero-dorsalwards tolie at the lateral side of the embryo. This position is retained until about 220 hr after oviposition. The oenocytes never show mitosis during the period of their differentiation anddevelopment.

J.

Spiracles

When the division of the head and thorax becomes evident and the abdominal appendages
are completed (late stage 10), a pair of spiracular invaginations appears in each lateral wall of
the pro- and metathorax, and the first nine abdominal segments (Fig. 19). The prothoracic

Ectodermal derivatives of Endoclita

223

18

as4

Fig. 14.
Fig. 15.
Fig. 16.
Fig. 17.
Fig. 18.
Fig. 19.
Fig. 20.

p.st.gI.nb

ng

Sagittal section through stomodaeum at stage 7, showing rudiments of stomatogastric nervous system.
Sagittal section through stomodaeum at late stage 10, showing stomatogastric nervous system.
Cross section through stomodaeum at stage 10, showing posterior stomodaeal
gland.
Cross section through stomodaeum just anterior position of Fig. 16 at stage 10.
Cross section through posterior stomodaeal gland at late stage 10.
Longitudinal section through the 3rd abdominal segment at stage 10, showing
oenocytes and spiracular invagination.
Cross section through the 4th abdominal segment at stage 10, showing oenocytes.

as3,4 3rd and 4th abdominal segment, a.st.g anterior stomodaeal gland, cl.m closing
membrane, fr.g frontal ganglion, gl.c glandular cell, l.nb lateral neuroblast, 1r c.c labralcoelomic cavity, mes mesoderm, ng, neural groove, oec oenocyte, p.st.g posterior stomodaeal gland, re.n recurrent nerve, sog.b suboesophageal body, spr spiracular invagination,
stom stomodaeum.

N

N

.j:o

23

24

to.,]

§
~

.P'

s::

.-<
~

o

<:1"

~

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Figs. 21-24. Scale drawings showing successive changes in developing pleuropodium.
Ventral view of embryo at stage 9.
Fig. 21.
Fig. 22.
Longitudinal section through the 1st abdominal segment at stage 9.
Fig. 23.
Longitudinal section through the 1st abdominal segment at stage 10.
Fig. 24.
Longitudinal section through the Ist abdominal segment at stage 13.
at antennal rudiment, coel coelomic cavity, lb labial segment, lr labral rudiment, md
mandibular segment, mes mesoderm, oec oenocyte, pp pleuropodium, thl thoracic leg,
1st ab.ap 1st abdominal appendage.

§
Q.-

l:I:

~

Q.-

o

Ectodermal derivatives of Endoclita

225

spiracles invaginate at the latero-posterior part of the segment, while metathoracic ones
appear in the medio-ventral part (near the base of the thoracic leg) of the segment. All theabdominal spiracles are situated on the dorsal part of oenocytes.
After revolution, the metathoracic spiracles are gradually reduced and disappear, and thenthe spiracles of the ninth abdominal segment also degenerate. Consequently, in a 165-hrembryo (stage 12), spiracles remain in the pro thoracic and the first eight abdominal segments.

4.

Pleuropodia

In stage 8, rudimentary appendages become evident on all abdominal segments of theembryo. Among them, the appendages in the first abdominal segment are well developedand sharp in their extremities, and are located more medially than other ones (Fig. 21). In
this stage, distinct coelomic cavities are observed on both sides of the first abdominal
segment.
In stage 9, somewhat large nuclei appear in the body wall near the base of the rudimentary appendages of the first abdominal segment (Fig. 22). Then the cells having these nu'clei
aggregate and separate from the body wall to form the rudiment of the pleuropodium, locating between the ventral nerve cord and oenocytes in the first abdominal segment. In stage
10, the projections of rudimentary appendages are reduced, but the pleuropodium, on thecontrary, well develops (especially its cytoplasm elongates externally), and forms a conical,
glandular structure of about 20 J.lm in diameter and 35 J.lm in height. As development
advaces, the cytoplasm of the pleuropodial cells further grow, and their distal ends protrude
from the body wall of the embryo (Fig. 23). Shortly after that the distal region becomesrounded and swells.
During revolution of the embryo (stage 11), the pleuropodia are situated beneath oenocytes, and their distal ends are faced laterally. At 162 hr after oviposition, ringed depressions of body walls are observed around the pleuropodial projections. After revolution, thepleuropodial cells continue their development, and the pleuropodia attain the maximum
state of 55 J.lm in length and 12 J.lm in diameter of the swollen, distal end by 200 hr after
oviposition (stage 13). This state (Fig. 24) persists until stage 14 when the basic form of thefirst instar larva is established. The pleuropodia then degenerate and disappear, but.we could
not observe its exact process.

Discussion
1.

Nervous system

As exactly summarized by Springer and Rutschly (1969), there are many opinions about
the fate of the median cord. In the Lepidoptera such as Pieris rapae (Eastham, 1930) andChilo suppressalis (Okada, 1960), the median cord is shown to form the transverse commissure, although in the latter species the median cord in part participates in the formation of
the dorsal half of the neurilemma. In Heliothis zea, however, the median cord is reported toform the glial elements at the midline of the neuropile (Springer and Rutschky, 1969). In

Tanaka, M., Y. Kobayashi and H. AlIlIdb

226

the primitive lepidopteran Neomicropteryx nipponensis (Kobayashi and Ando, 1983) andthe trichopteran Stenopsyche griseipennis (Miyakawa, 1974), the median cord seems in partto form the dorsal cortical layer of the ganglion and in part to form the glial elements. The
median cord of E. sinensis, as in C. suppressalis, seems to be destined in part to form thetransverse commissure, and in part the neurilemma. In this species, however, the rest of theneurilemma seems to arise from the most lateral neuroblasts of the lateral cord. On theother hand, in P. rapae (Eastham, 1930) and N. nipponensis (Kobayashi and Ando, 1983),
the neurilemma is solely formed by the peripheral lateral cord cells. At any rate, further
ultrastructural studies are needed to decide the fate of the median cord and the origin of theneurilemma.
In S. griseipennis (Miymwa.. 1974), the deutocerebral commissure exists in the preoral
region, and the tritoeelebral commissure in part fuses to the frontal ganglion, although thesefacts are unusual in msect embryogenesis. However, in E. sinensis as in other lepidopteranspecies, the deutocerebral commissure is absent, and the tritocerebral one is confluent withthe suboesophageal commissure, thus being clearly postoral in position. Therefore the development of the brain in E. !inensis proceeds in more general manner than in S. griseipennis.
In most insects the stomatogastric nervous system originates from the three cell-masses
lying on the median line of the dorsal wall of the stomodaeum (Anderson, 1972). In the
Lepidoptera, slightly different observations have been reported on its formation. In P. rapae(Eastham, 1930), two cell-masses proliferate from the dorsal stomodaeal wall, and the anterior one gives rise to the frontal ganglion and the posterior one to the stomatogastric ganglion.
The recurrent nerve is produced by the extension: of nerve cells from the two ganglia.
In C. suppressalis (Okada, 1960), the system originates from a single mass; but as the stomodaeum grows, it is divided into three masses. The anterior one gives rise to the frontal
ganglion, the middle one to the recurrent nerve, and the posterior one divides into two to
become the corpora cardiaca. In H. zea (Presser and Rutschky, 1957), three cell-masses areformed through the evagination of the dorsal stomodaeal wall. The anterior one becomesthe frontal ganglion that gives rise to the recurrent nerve. The other two cell-masses become
glandular "stomodaeal glands" that later seem to fuse and disappear. In N. nipponensis(Kobayashi and Ando, 1983), the system develops from three evaginations in the dorsal
stomodaeal wall. The anteriormost evagination forms the frontal ganglion, the second the
hypocerebral ganglion and corpora cardiaca, and the posterior one the ventricular ganglion.
The recurrent nerve differentiate from both the second and posterior evagination. Therefore, the mode of development of the stomatogastric nervous system in E. sinensis is basically similar to that in H. zea at the point that two glandular cell-masses are formed in the dorsal stomodaeal wall, although the'recurrent nerve of the former species originates from thetwo stomodaeal glands not from the frontal ganglion as in the latter.

2.

Oenocytes

In the ditrysian Lepidoptera such as Ephestia kuehniella (Stendel1, 1912), P. rapae(Eastham, 1930), H. zea (presser and Rutschky, 1957), and HyaZophora cecropia (Harmsen
and Beckel, 1960), as in other pterygote insects, the oenocytes arise segmentally in the firsteight abdominal segments. The same observation was made here in E. sinensis. However, inEctodermal derivatives of En do clita

227

N. nipponensis (Kobayashi and Ando, 1983) and trichopteran S. griseipennis (Miyakawa,1974), the oenocytes occur in the first seven abdominal segments but are absent in theeighth. Kobayashi and Ando (1983) have regarded the situation in these two insects as oneof the strong evidence for close affinity between N. nipponensis and the Trichoptera. It
seems necessary in futrure to ascertain the existence of oenocytes in the eighth abdominal
segment in other primitive lepidopterans.
3.

Spiracles

In most of the Lepidoptera as in other Holometabola, larval spiracles are present in themetathorax and the first eight abdominal segments. However, the sites of occurrence of spiracular invaginations in their embryos slightly vary according to species. For example, in
Bombyx mori (Toyama, 1902), spiracular invaginations appear first in each segment fromthe prothoracic to the eleventh abdominal. During embryogenesis, the spiracles on themesothoracic, ninth, and tenth abdominal segment disappear entirely, while the remaining
ten pairs of spiracles persist in the larval stage. In P. rapae (Eastham, 1930), the spiracles
occur in the pro- and mesothorax, and the first eight abdominal segments, and among them
only the mesothoracic ones degenerate during the embryonic stage. In Diacrisia virginica(Johannsen, 1929) and N. nipponensis (Kobayashi and Ando, 1983), spiracular invaginations are formed in the meso- and metathorax, and the first eight abdominal segments. In
later embryonic stages of these species, the mesothoracic spiracles migrate onto the prothorax, and the metathoracic ones are reduced and disappear entirely. Consequently, thenumber and position of the spiracular invaginations in the embryonic stage of E. sinensis, inwhich they arise first in the pro- and metathorax, and the first nine abdominal segments, do
not accord with those of any of the above-mentioned species.

4.

Pleuropodia

Roonwal (i 937) classified the pleuropodia into evaginate and invaginate types. In the
Lepidoptera, the pleuropodia are rare and known to occur in Catocala nupta, C. jraxini(Hirschler, 1928), P. rapae (Eastham, 1930), and N. nipponensis (Kobayashi and Ando,
1983). All of these are weakly developed, and belong to the invaginate type. In E. sinensis,
the pleuropodia first appear as appendage-like projections in the first abdominal segment.
Their nuclei are then retracted into the body cavity, whereas their cytoplasm projects into
the amniotic cavity before and during revolution. Thus the pleuropodia of E. sinensis also
belong to the invaginate type.
NoticeThe material moth of the present study has long been regared as Endoclita signijer
Walker, but recently, the species was accurately identified with E. sinensis (Moore) (Inoue
et aI., 1982). Accordingly, all the name of E. signijer apperared in our previous papers(Ando and Tanaka, 1980; Kobayashi et aI., 1981) should be replaced with the name of E.

sinensis.

228

Tanaka, M., Y. Kobayashi and H. Ando

References
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Ectodermal derivatives of Endoclita

Authors' address:

229

Dr. M. Tanaka,
Kano High School, N anyo-cho, Kano,
Gifu 500, Japan
Dr. Y. Ko bayashi,
Department of Biology, Saitama Medical
School,981 Kawakado, Moroyama,
Iruma-gun, Saitama 350-04, Japan
Prof. H. Ando,
Sugadaira Montane Research Center,
University of Tsukuba, Nagano 386-22,
Japan