Nickles Elizabeth P, Ghiradella Helen, Bakhru Hassaram, Haberl Arthur
Department of Physics, The University at Albany, Albany, New York 12222, USA.
J Morphol. 2002 Feb;251(2):140-8. doi: 10.1002/jmor.1079.
Most insect eggshells are ornately sculptured; that of the Karner Blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis, exhibits a series of interwoven ridges and depressions. Scanning electron microscopic views of the shell show that the patterning resides in the outer chorion, while the inner vitelline membrane is relatively flat and featureless. We here describe the morphology of the egg and introduce a physical technique, use of a Dynamitron accelerator, to identify and localize elements in the eggshell. Most elements present are represented in the chorion, but sulfur appears restricted to the vitelline membrane. The micropyle is particularly rich in calcium and, in unhatched eggs, phosphorus as well.
大多数昆虫的卵壳都有精美的雕刻；卡纳蓝蝶（Lycaeides melissa samuelis）的卵壳呈现出一系列交织的脊和凹陷。卵壳的扫描电子显微镜图像显示，图案存在于外层卵壳膜中，而内层卵黄膜相对平坦且无特征。我们在此描述了这种卵的形态，并介绍了一种物理技术，即使用一台动态加速器来识别和定位卵壳中的元素。卵壳中存在的大多数元素都在外层卵壳膜中有所体现，但硫似乎仅存在于卵黄膜中。卵孔特别富含钙，在未孵化的卵中还富含磷。
