Exochorionic Study on Three Species of Heliconiinae from Mexico

We describe and compare the exochorion of three species of Heliconiinae from Mexico (Euptoieta hegesia meridiania, Agraulis vanillae incarnata, and Laparus doris viridis) with other previously published species from southern Brazil. The comparison emphasizes the main exochorionic characters such as 'ornamentation', micropylar, perimicropylar, and transition zones differentiation, as well as equatorial and basal reticules. We used the staining technique and scanning electron microscope. Structural differences are recognized in two of the Heliconiinae tribes, being characteristic in Argynnini its truncated conical shape, the presence of two reticules (supra and infra-equatorial), and perhaps keels in the apex; while Heliconiini has oblong ellipsoidal shapes and a rectangular grid with some penta or hexagonal polygons in the apical region. Morphology in Acraeini, the possible implications of chorionic morphology in the systematics of Heliconiinae, and the characters in some species are briefly discussed. Sheets and diagrams are included/presented for clear visualization of the structures and areas described in the chorion of Argynnini and Heliconiini.