Integument morphology of assassin bugs of the genus Platymeris

Abstract

The study of the integument or external integument of insects that have the most pronounced diversity of forms and functions among other invertebrates, allows to use them successfully in materials science, nanotechnology and other areas. Common in captivity, primarily due to their aesthetic appearance, assassin bugs of the genus Platymeris (Pl. biguttatus; Pl. rhadamanthus) are of particular interest since they are characterized by significant morphological features of different parts of the exoskeleton. In addition to the common chitinous covers, they have a rostrum, that differs from the general structure of the cuticle and has specific characteristics. In this regard, we set out to study the morphological features of the microstructure of various parts of the integument of assassin bugs of the genus Platymeris. To study the integument, histological preparations were made using an adapted technique. Based on the data received we can point out significant variability in the organization of the integument depending on the location and function performed. The least variety of structure was observed in the protocuticle, which is probably due to its more ancient origin and the fact that it determines the shape of a specific section of the insect. Despite the fact that it takes a long time and significant changes in the microstructure to identify them, in the studied bugs areas (rostrum) that differed from the typical organization of the protocuticle were discovered.