SEM-Investigations on the exochorion of scutoverticid eggs

Abstract

The exochorion of the eggs of four scutoverticid species – Scutovertex minutus, S. sculptus, Scutovertex sp. (Baltic Coast) and Provertex kuehnelti – were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The egg shell is very complexly structured in all these species, with a species-specific fine structure of the exochorion. S. minutus and S. sculptus eggs show similar but not identical fungiform surface textures, whereas Scutovertex sp. from the Baltic coast deposited eggs with an additional thin external layer. The exochorion of P. kuehnelti eggs has deep pores on its surface; its fine structure differs completely from the egg shells of the other species.