Impact of Fungus on Egg Shell of Tropical Tasar Silk Worm, Antheraea mylitta: An Ultra-structural Approach

The egg shell of the tropical tasar silkworm, Antheraea mylitta is formed from the substances secreted by the follicular epithelium during the late vitellogenic stage. TEM study reveals the inner travecular and outer lamellar layer of chorion. The travecular layer is composed of the innermost wax layer, inner and outer chorionic layer. The inner and outer chorionic layers are connected to each other by vertical pillers forming of cavities. The lamellar layer is perforated by the aeropyles. SEM study reveals the differentiation of an anterior surface of the egg shell into four zones-micropylar, edge, aeropyles crown and disc zone. In the mycosis infected eggs the aeropyles and egg-shell surface are fully packed with the hyphae of the fungus, Aspergillus sydowi blocking of plastron respiration and causing the death of developing embryo so that mycosis infected eggs become sterile.