MICROSPINE VARIATION IN HINDGUT REGIONS OF 4 FAMILIES OF COCKROACHES (BLATTARIA)

Microspines in the cockroach (Blattaria) hindgut were studied to deter mine their structure, variation, and potential use in classification. Short spines (1-10 mu m) were found in all regions of the hindgut, exc ept for the rectal cuticle in all species, the posterior region of the ileum and colon in C. punctulatus and the posterior portion of the il eum of the blaberoid species. They were also characteristics of the py loric and other valvular cuticle between areas of the hindgut. Moderat e (20-60 mu m) and long (over 100 mu m) microspinal lengths were assoc iated with bacterial aggregations or plaques in the ileum. Microspinal modifications showed only poor phylogenetic correlations.