COMPOSITION OF THE OVIPOSITOR. 



17 



of thin lamelliform pieces of similar form and structure, arising 



from the stcrnite of the ninth ring. These sternal outgrowths 



do not homologize with the filiform, antennae-like, jointed 



appendages of the eleventh ring, as seen in the Perlidae and 



most Neuroptera and Orthoptera (especially in Mantis tes- 



sellata where they (Fig. 23) closely 



resemble antennae), which, arising as 



they do from the arthroplcural, or limb- 



bearing region of the body, i. e. between Fig. 23. 



the sternum and episternum, are strictly homologous with the 



abdominal legs of the Myriapoda, the "false legs" of cater- 



pillars, and the abdominal legs of some Neuropterous larvae 



(Corydalis, Phyganeidce, etc.). 



It will thus be seen that the attenuated form of the tip is 

 produced by the decrease in size of certain parts, the actual 

 disappearance of others, and the perfection of those parts to 

 be of future use. Thus towards the extremity of the body 

 the plcurites are absorbed and disappear, the tergites overlap 

 on the sternites, and the latter diminish in size and are 

 withdrawn within the body, while the last, or eleventh sternite, 

 entirely disappears.* Meanwhile the sting grows larger and 



larger, until finally we 

 have the neatly fashioned 

 abdominal tip of the bee 

 concealing the complex 

 sting with its intricate 

 system of visceral ves- 

 sels and glands. 

 The ovipositor, or sting, of all insects, therefore, is formed 

 on a common plan (Fig. 24). The solid elements of the arthro- 



*In limuttra, however, Lacaze-Duthiers has noticed the curious fact that in 

 order to form the long respiratory tube of this insect, the tergite and sternite of the 

 pregenital (eighth) segment are aborted, M'hile the pleurites are enormously en- 

 larged and elongated, so as to carry the stigmata far out to the end of the long tube 

 thus formed. 



FIG. 23. End of the abdomen of Mantis tessellata; p, many-jointed anal style 

 resembling an antenna. 5-11, the seven last abdominal segments; the 8-llth ster- 

 nites being obsolete. From I.acd-.i-Diitliiers. 



FIG. 24. Ideal plan of the structure of the ovipositor in the adult insect. 1-7*, 

 t IK tergites, connected by dotted lines with their corresponding sternites. 6, the 

 eighth tergite, or anal scale; c, epimerum ; a, a, t\vo pieces forming the outer pair 

 of rhabdites; i, the second pair, or stylets; and /, the inner pair, or sting; d, the 



2 



. 24. 



