The ommatidium of the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis
Date
1971
Authors
Horridge, George Adrian
Giddings, C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
An electron microscope study of the compound eye of the termite Mastotermes darwiniensis shows that the ommatidia have both primitive and specialized features. The ommatidia are of the apposition type with eight similar retinular cells, a fused rhabdom, irregularly orientated rhabdomere tubules and no tracheae. The retinula cells contain lipid. The cone cells have unusual processes, which thicken towards the basement membrane and contain rough endoplasmic reticulum, granules and dense bodies. These processes may act as a primitive transport system for nutrients.
Description
Keywords
Mastotermes darwiniensis, termite, compound eye, ommatidia, retinula cell, rhabdom, Northern Australia, New Guinea.
Citation
Collections
Source
Tissue and Cell
Type
Journal article
Book Title
Entity type
Access Statement
License Rights
Restricted until
2037-12-31