Histological Development of Cuticle in the Worker Honeybee,Apis Mellifera Adansonii

Abstract

The histological development of cuticle from adult worker honeybees from South Africa (Apis mellifera adansonii) was investigated. In order to obtain large numbers of individuals of known age from sealed cells, a grouping system was devised and the temporal limits of the groups determined. The terminology applied to the different stages in the life cycle was also examined, and the pupal stage was found to be much shorter, and the adult stage much longer, than previously reported in the literature on Apis mellifera. Cuticle of the frons and scutum were similar in their patterns of differentiation and thickness, but showed certain differences from cuticle of the abdominal tergites. In general however, the patterns of differentiation of cuticle from all three regions are similar to those found in many insectts.