Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Calicut-673 635, Kerala (India).
The hindgut of Iphita limbata Stal is short and divisible into an anterior pylorus and a large posterior rectum. Pylorus forms the junction between the midgut and the rectum and is characterised by the presence of pyloric valve. Rectum is a thin sac and tapers posteriorly to open through the anus. The epithelium of the pyloric region is thrown into a series of opposing lobes by the folds of the pyloric valve. A thin layer of chitinous intima is present on the inner surface of the folds. The redum shows regional differentiation of epithelial cells. The cells in the dorsal wall are modified into rectal gland cells, whereas those on the ventral wall are formed of irregularly shaped small cells. The terminal part of the rectum is tubular in nature and is provided with syncytial epithelium.
