Micromorphology of Beetle Elytra, Using Simple Replicas

Abstract

One of the simplest techniques in biology, an instant replica, utilized cellulose acetobutyratfolie and yielded transparent impressions that were examined directly and photographed by light microscopy. The resulting photographs were comparable to those of the scanning electron microscope at that magnification. Elytra of hundreds of species, belonging to various families of Coleoptera were examined. The microsculpture was somewhat different in almost every species possessing it. Taxonomists can routinely utilize this very simple method for a better understanding of the interrelationships between various taxa.