The fine structure of the ocelli of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

ABSTRACT

The morphology and fine structure of the ocelli of Triatoma infestans have been analyzed by means of light and electron microscopy. The two dorsal ocelli of this species are located behind the compound eyes, looking dorsally and frontally. Externally, the ocelli are marked by the corneal lenses virtually spherical in form and limited internally by a cuticular apodeme. The lens focuses the incoming rays beyond the retina. A single layer of corneagen cells lies below the cuticular lens. The corneagen cells and photoreceptors are arranged in a cup-like fashion beneath the cuticular lens. A distal retinal zone comprises the rhabdoms, which are laterally connected in an hexagonal meshwork. A middle retinal zone comprises the receptor cell segment free of rhabdom, and a proximal zone their axons. In the middle zone, the oviform nuclei and spheroids are located. Screening pigment granules are present within the retinal cell. Spherical mitochondria are homogeneously distributed in the cytoplasm of the cell body. In the axonal zone, mitochondria are found in the peripheral region. Axons from receptor cells extend into the ocellar neuropile at the base of the ocelli, to synapse with second order neurons. The large axons of second order neurons are bundled by glial cells. The ocellar plexus exhibits a high diversity of synaptic unions (i.e. axo-dendritic, axo-axonic, dendro-axonic, and dendro-dendritic).