A novel epidermal abdominal gland in the cricket Ectecous segregatus Gorochov, 1996 (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Phalangopsidae)

Abstract

Ectecous segregatus (Grylloidea: Phalangopsidae) presents a modification in some abdominal tergites hypothesized to be openings for epidermal glands. This feature however has been described in the literature only on the basis of its external morphology. This study describes the morphology of E. segregatus abdominal glands associated with cuticular modifications. Histological and ultrastructural data show the presence of abdominal glands in males of E. segregatus, represented by an epidermis with columnar cells classified as type I glands. This is the first study that shows the presence of an abdominal gland associated with external cuticular modifications in crickets.