Three-dimensional reconstruction of a whole insect reveals its phloem sap-sucking mechanism at nano-resolution
Xinqiu Wang, Jiansheng Guo, Danting Li, Yang Yu, Jaco Hagoort, Bernard Moussian, Chuan‐Xi Zhang
Abstract
(Hemiptera: Delphacidae) at nanometer resolution for the first time. Within the reconstructed organs and tissues, we found many novel and fascinating internal structures in the planthopper such as naturally occurring three four-way rings connecting adjacent spiracles to facilitate efficient gas exchange, and fungal endosymbionts in a single huge insect cell occupying 22% of the abdomen volume to enable the insect to live on plant sap. To understand the muscle and stylet movement during phloem sap-sucking, the cephalic skeleton and muscles were reconstructed in feeding nymphs. The results revealed an unexpected contraction of the protractors of the stylets and suggested a novel feeding model for the phloem sap-sucking.