Is there a relationship between the morphology of the forewing axillary sclerites and the way the wing folds in aphids (Aphidomorpha, Sternorrhyncha, Hemiptera)?

Abstract

The present study describes the relationship between the morphology of the forewing axillary sclerites and the way the wings fold among 24 aphid genera as compared to a representative of coccids. Architecture of the forewing base was imaged with scanning electron and optical (fluorescence) microscopy. Significant differences in morphology of axillary sclerites between aphid species were observed, despite their belonging to one infraorder. Detailed description of 41 features of axillary sclerites was made. There was no difference between axillaries of viviparous (Aphididae) and oviparous (Adelges sp., Phylloxera sp.) species. No clear relationship between morphology of the axillary sclerites and the wing folding could be confirmed. Instead, the thorax structure determines the way the wing folds in aphids. Phylogenetic analysis based on our results cannot be conducted at this stage of study. To show how three-dimensional the structures are and how difficult to describe, a short animation of Aphis fabae (Aphididae) wing base was added. This is a preliminary study about morphology of axillary sclerites among aphids.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00435-017-0390-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Morphological and histological study of the forewing of Aleyrodes proletella (Linnaeus 1758) (Sternorrhyncha, Hemiptera) with a comparative analysis of forewings among Sternorrhyncha infraorders

“…Forewing formation may have proceeded independently in these four groups (Franielczyk and Wegierek 2016, 2017, 2019Franielczyk-Pietyra et al 2018a, b). It is reflected by both axillary sclerites and the differences between forewing surface.…”

“…Based on forewing venation, again two groups can be distinguished, but this time different ones: psyllids are more similar to aphids, and coccoids to whiteflies. Detailed analyses of forewings can show differences referring not only to the number of veins, but also to their arrangement, branching, reaching or not the wing margin as well as to their cross section Wegierek 2017, 2019;Franielczyk-Pietyra et al 2018a).…”

“…Although the general model of axillary sclerites in wing base is similar among Sternorrhyncha infraorders, there are some differences between these elements among taxa within one infraorder. It is particularly evident in the detailed analysis of Aphidomorpha (Franielczyk-Pietyra et al 2018a), where axillary sclerites of 24 aphid genera were described. The studies concentrated on aphids because these insects have different reproduction modes (viviparity and oviparity), as well as individual ways of wing folding.…”

Comparative Morphology of the Wing Base Structure Illuminates Higher-Level Phylogeny of Holometabola

“…To facilitate the understanding of character descriptions, numerous characters are illustrated in schematic diagrams of the axillary sclerites, excluding the relationships among the axillaries. Each sclerite of the wing base is defined by proximal, distal, anterior, and posterior aspects ( Figure 1 ) [ 66 ].…”

“… Overall model of the axillary sclerites for Holometabola: 1Ax, 2Ax, 3Ax. This model was modified from Figure 3 of Franielczyk-Pietyra et al [ 66 ]. Numbers represent morphological characters.…”