Anatomical and Histological Study on the Digestive Canal of Epilachna chrysomelina (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

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DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/1109

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ABSTRACT:

Epilachna chrysomelina (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is one of the phytophagous insects that feeds on cucurbit plants and is considered an economic pest, widely distributed throughout the world and It is also endemic along the South Western coast of Saudi Arabia due to the abundance of cucurbit plants (wild and domesticated) causing severe damage. Anatomical and histological study has been conducted on the digestive canal of E.Chrysomelina, to study the relationship between the length and the structure of the digestive canal and the kind of food. The study indicated that the length of the digestive canal of E.crysomelina is double in length of those of carnivorous beetles. The histological structure showed different types of cells; the results were discussed with related references.

KEYWORDS:

Epilachna chrysomelina; Digestive canal; Cucurbit plants; Histological