Ultrastructure of The Wax Gland in The Male Second Instar of The White-Wax Insect,Ericerus pela Chavannes

The ultrastructure of the wax gland in the male second instar larvae of the white-wax insect,Ericerus pela Chavannes,is investigated.The wax gland is composed of six to eight cells:one main cell,three to five accessory cells,two ductule cells and a secreting canal system.The secreting canal system consists of a duct,a ductuli,an end apparatus,a reservoir,subcuticular spaces and collecting canals.The wax gland cells are of general organization characteristics of integumentary glands.They are characterised by a very large quantity of smooth endoplasmic reticulum which forms dense zones throughout the cytoplasm and by a lot of mitochondria which often gathers in certain area.Near the collecting canals the dictyosomes are especially numerous.In different physiological states the regularly morphological modification of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria takes place during a day.Unlike that of general integumentary glands,the end apparatus of this wax gland has several cavities which are formed with the ductule terminate branched.The end apparatus is of only a fibrillar layer instead of two layers.The fibrillar is composed of fibrils.Its diameter is larger than usual.All of these characters make secretory products go out easily.