ANATOMY OF THE NEUROSECRETORY-CELLS IN THE CEREBRAL AND SUBESOPHAGEALGANGLIA OF THE FEMALE EUROPEAN CORN-BORER MOTH, OSTRINIA-NUBILALIS (HUBNER) (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE)

The anatomy of the neurosecretory cells in the brain-subesophageal gan glion complex of female European corn borer moth Ostrinia nubilalis (L epidoptera: Pyralidae) was studied using histological and cobalt backf illing techniques. Histological staining revealed the presence of 2 me dian and one lateral neurosecretory cell groups in the brain. These br ain neurosecretory cells are made up of mainly type A cells with a few type B cells in the median group. Three type C neurosecretory cell cl usters occupy the apparent mandibular, maxillary, and labial neuromere s at the ventral median aspect of the subesophageal ganglion. Axonal p athways of the neurosecretory cell groups were delineated by retrograd e cobalt filling from the corpora cardiaca. Fibers of the 3 brain neur osecretory cell groups merged to form a distinct axonal tract that exi ts the brain via the fused nervi corporis cardiaci-1+2. Cobalt backfil ling from the corpora cardiaca filled 4 groups of cell bodies in the s ubesophageal ganglion. The presence in the subesophageal ganglion of e xtensive dendritic arborizations derived from the brain suggests inter actions between neurosecretory cell groups in the 2 head ganglia.