The Morphology and Development of the Wing Pattern of Lepidoptera

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Abstract
The work of Kiihn, Henke and their collaborators on the detn. of wing pattern in Lepidoptera is reviewed. The pattern of Philosamia cynthia is described, and the homologies of pattern elements for the Saturnidae given. The relation of the wing pattern to the body pattern and the field character of pattern elements is discussed. The identical reaction of the pattern elements of Ephestia to environmental stimuli in characteristic sensitive periods and to certain genes is stressed. Expts. are cited which prove that the final location of the crossbands on the wings of Ephestia is due to a determination stream passing from the underside across both edges on the surface of the wing. Expts. leading to similar ideas for the determination of certain pattern elements in P. cynthia are descr. The first effect of the determination stream is an increase of mitoses at the lines where the determination stream has stopped. Finally, the crossbands, consisting of scales of a certain morphological and pigmentation type, are formed in the same areas. A description of the differentiation of different types of scales is given. Finally, genetically and environmentally controlled processes are discussed which lead to the suppression of already determined pattern elements.