Ultrastructural and cytochemical characterization of brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum (Hemiptera: Coccidae) infected by the Lecanicillium lecanii (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

The ultrastructural and cytochemical characterization of the brown soft scale, Coccus hesperidum L. (Hemiptera: Coccidae) infected by the hyphomycete Lecanicillium lecanii (Zimmermann) Gams & Zare, belonging to the phylum Ascomycota and order Hypocreales, was investigated by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Gold cytochemistry was used to label chitin in the cuticle of the scale insect. The results revealed that the pathogenic fungus, L. lecanii generally infected by penetrating the integument, especially at anus, vulva, spiracles, stigmatic furrow, body margin, and the areas of cuticle with grooves, fissures and rugoses areas. The conidia became attached to the host body surface and germinated into hyphae that established colonies by branching repeatedly. Hyphae penetrated the integument by means of their penetration pegs using mechanical force and extracellular enzymes. During integument penetration, the hyphae extended vertically or parallel along the cuticle. Labeling with the WGA/Ovo-G complex showed disruption of the parallel sheets of chitin and a decrease in the density of the gold particles surrounding the penetrated hyphae. Hyphal invasion also separated the cuticle and epidermis from each other. Once in the haemocoele, blastospores of the fungus infected the haemocytes and internal organs. After some time, the nutritive value of the haemocoele decreased and the insect's internal organs disappeared. The hyphae then produced conidiophores and released them through the cuticle of the scale insect cadaver.