The surface morphology of locust hindgut cuticle

The surface architecture of hindgut cuticle in Locusta migratoria is described. Infundibulate pores are present in the midrectal pads, the ileum and the posterior rectum. It is suggested that they lead to canals traversing the cuticle. Larger occluded crater-like pores are present on the posterior rectal pads and may be glandular. The cuticle of the ileum and colon is invested with numerous spikes pointing backwards, and the interpad region of the rectum with upright spikes pointing inwards. These spikes probably serve to direct the faeces backwards from the ileum and colon, and to impale the faecal pellet during dehydration in the rectum.