Description of the ovipositor muscles and skeletal structures of Ceraphronoidea (Hymenoptera) using laser scanning microscopy for visualization

This is the first effort to describe the ovipositor of Ceraphronoidea. Muscles and sclerites of dissected specimens were imaged using Confocal laser scanning microscopy and light microscopy. Using the three dimensional visualization afforded by confocal laser scanning microscopy, we have been able to confidently make hypotheses concerning function of muscles and the articulation of sclerites composing the ovipositor structure. All of the images taken are annotated to describe morphological concepts in the Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology.