THE FORMATION OF THE CUTICLE IN THE HOUSE CRICKET, ACHETA DOMESTICUS (L.), AND THE ROLE OF OENOCYTES

Abstract

The cuticle of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.), is made up of three layers: an epicuticle, an exocuticle, and an endocuticle. The epicuticle is laid down first and the endocuticle only after ecdysis. The possible functions of oenocytes in the formation of the cuticle concern the secretion of substances necessary for the wax layer of the epicuticle, a contribution to polysaccharide material involved in chitin synthesis and a role in the phenolic metabolism before sclerotization.