Development of the wing buds in Megoura viciae: a morphological study

This study describes the initial phases of wing morphogenesis of Megoura viciae Buckton (Homoptera Aphididae). We evaluated the development of wing buds in males (winged) and parthenogenetic females (presumed to become wingless) of M. viciae from birth to 4 instar. Wing bud epithelium in males is initially simple, becoming bistratified and then progressing to stratify. Mitotic activity is more intense in the proximal region of bud, and its behaviour seems to be synchronous. In parthenogenetic females, from birth to 1 instar, the buds resemble those of males at the same stages, but subsequently the epithelium returns to the simple state, and from the 3 instar stage, it cannot be distinguished from the adjacent epithelium. This study moreover defines distinctive wing bud features that can be used to identify these buds during development in other aphid species.