Morphological and Ultrastructural Characteristics of the Chorion of Cimex lectularius Linnaeus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae)

Abstract. Bed bugs, Cimex lectularius Linnaeus, are increasingly reported as pests in hotels, apartments and homes worldwide. Although limited ultrastructural analysis of bed bug nymphs and adults has been performed, little is known about the ultrastructure of bed bug eggs. This study, using scanning and transmission electron microscropy, revealed several unique structural aspects of bed bug eggs. Chorionic projections form a polygonal pattern covering the egg surface. A complex operculumcollar structure is found on the anterior end of the egg, and the inner surface of the collar has three distinct regions, a smooth outer rim, a porous palisade layer and a porous ribbed layer. The outer surface of the collar is smooth with an operculum fitting into the collar. Large and distinctly ridged polygons cover the surface of the operculum. The polygons around the perimeter of the operculum have a rugose surface; the polygons adjacent to the rugose ones display spheres on the surface; and the remaining polygons ha...