Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
This exhibit represents some portions of a study of the stomodaeal nervous system, neurosecretory cells, corpora allata, corpora cardiaca, and prothoracic gland cells in post-embryonic stages of Aedes aegypti (L.), the yellow fever mosquito. Some of these structures share the common property of being involved in the production of hormones.
Mosquitoes were reared under standard conditions. Larvae, pupae and adults were fixed at timed intervals in histological fixatives. Sectioned specimens were stained in Gomori's aldehyde-fuchsin, Gomori's chrome-haematoxyh-phloxin and other stains. The aldehyde-fuchsin technique, which imparted a bright purple colour to neurosecretory material, was particularly useful. Vita1 staining with methylene blue was used to trace the stomodaeal nervous system
1 Joint contribution of the Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, and the Entomology Laboratory, Research Branch, canada Department of Agriculture, Zuelph, Ontario.