Fig. 3

Ovipositor of Lariophagus distinguendus. a–e SEM images of the various ovipositor elements (left is anterior). a Apex of the terebra comprising the 2nd valvula and the paired 1st valvulae (dorsolateral view). The 2nd valvula is longitudinally split but fused at the apex, featuring seven sawteeth. The 1st valvula features two small apical sawteeth. Its aulax terminates pre-apically and bears a coeloconic sensillum at its apical end (for cross section cf. Fig. 4i, j). Both the 1st and 2nd valvulae bear various types of sensilla. b Upon removal of the 2nd valvula, the aulaces of the inner surface of the 1st valvula become visible (dorsal view), featuring distally directed scale-like structures. c Upon removal of the 1st valvula, the rhachis at the ventral side of the 2nd valvula becomes visible (ventral view), featuring distally directed scale-like structures similar to those of the aulax. The egg canal is formed by both the 1st and 2nd valvulae and bears microsculpture consisting of distally oriented ctenidia. d Anterior part of the ovipositor (lateral view). The 1st valvifer is continuous with the dorsal ramus of the 1st valvula. It is connected with the 2nd valvifer and the female T9 via the intervalvifer and tergo-valvifer articulation, respectively. The 2nd valvifer possesses a post-ramus flap and two clusters of sensilla: the sensillar patch located anteriorly to the intervalvifer articulation and the sensillar row along its dorsal margin (e). f WFM image of the apical part of the terebra of L. distinguendus (dorsal view, left is anterior; only the images of the DAPI and Cy5 wavelength filters are superimposed here). The cuticle of the aulaces and the sawteeth of the 2nd valvula are heavily sclerotized (as indicated by their red autofluorescence). g, h Superimposed CLSM images of the basal part of the ovipositor of L. distinguendus (dorsal view, left is anterior; cf. Additional file 2). The cuticle of the valvulae and the valvifers is sclerotized, whereas the ctenidia show a high content of resilin (as indicated by their blue autofluorescence; h). Abbreviations: 1vf: 1st valvifer; 1vv: 1st valvula; 2vf: 2nd valvifer; 2vv: 2nd valvula; 3vv: 3rd valvula; au: Aulax; ba: Basal articulation; blb: Bulb; cs: Coeloconic sensillum; ct: Ctenidium; dr1: Dorsal ramus of the 1st valvula; fu: Furcula; iva: Intervalvifer articulation; lb: Laminated bridge; m-p-2vf-2vv: Posterior 2nd valvifer-2nd valvula muscle; prf: Post-ramus flap; rh: Rhachis; sc: Scale-like structure; sp: Sensillar patch of the 2nd valvifer; sr: Sensillar row of the 2nd valvifer; st1: Sawtooth of the 1st valvula; st2: Sawtooth of the 2nd valvula; t-m-d-T9-2vf-a: Tendon of the dorsal 2nd valvifer-T9 muscle part a; T9: Female T9 (9th abdominal tergum); tva: Tergo-valvifer articulation