Corneal Formation of the Compound Eye in Pieris rapae L.

배추흰나비 복안의 각막 형성

The corneal formation of compound eye of Pieris rapae L., which was mostly made during pupal stage, was morphologically investigated with light microscope, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The regeneration of the microvilli were found on the surface membranes of corneagen cells and retinular pigment cells of preommatidium after apolysis pupal cuticle. The microvilli were finally differentiated to corneal nipples of the ommatidium. The corneal cuticle was generated on the superficial layer of the preommatidium from corneagen cells and retinular pigment cells. The corneal process was also formed under the cuticular layer from the corneagen cells. The pore canal was appeared within the cuticular layer and connected with the retinular pigment cell as if the root of interommatidial hair was connected. The interommatidial hair was projected randomly among the ommatidial facets and cornal nipple was arrayed regular on the ommatidial facets. The cornea was convex lens and the refracting power by its convex shape was 4 diopter.