Giant polyploid epidermal cells and male pheromone production in the tephritid fruit fly Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera: Tephritidae)

• Pheromone components detected in male pleural epidermal cells and rectum. Pleural are 100 times larger males (300–400 μm) than females. In males, calls multinucleated, suggesting polyploidization. Males have cuticular elements that may help release pheromone through cuticle. Eurosta solidaginis produce large amounts of putative sex compared to other insect species; however, neither the site production nor mechanism has been characterized. We E. females, focusing on sexually dimorphic structures known be involved tephritid species. Morphological chemical analyses indicated rectum epidermis production, storage, or emission. quantities enlarged rectum, it stores for subsequent anus. However, might also discharge cuticle with involvement unusual attachments tergosternal muscles, which, when contracted realign specialized surface expose less-sclerotized areas were pleuron. These 60–100 mature females and, our knowledge, largest animal epithelial ever recorded. Furthermore, because these we presume they develop somatic polyploidization by endomitosis. Consequently, pheromone-associated multinuclear provide an interesting new system understanding