Abstract: 【Aim】 To identify and compare the types, morphology, distribution and numbers of antennal sensilla of adults of the important rice pests Herpetogramma licarsisalis and Cnaphalocrocis medinalis. 【Methods】 Antennal sensilla of the female and male adults of H. licarsisalis and C. medinalis which were collected from different regions of China, were observed by using scanning electron microscope. 【Results】 There are eight types of sensilla on the antennae of H. licarsisalis and C. medinalis adults, including Bhm’s bristles, sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica, sensilla auricillica, sensilla squamiformia, sensilla coeloconica and sensilla styloconica. Sensilla trichodea are the most widely distributed and abundant, and sensilla basiconica are next most after sensilla trichodea in number. The number of Bhm’s bristles on the scape is higher than that on the pedicel. The length of sensilla chaetica gradually increases towards the end of flagellum, on which the number of sensilla chaetica is the largest. There is only one sensillum styloconicum Ⅰ on each subsegment. Sensilla styloconica Ⅱ are only distributed at the end of flagellum, and their numbers are different and steady in the two pyralid adults. The subtypes of antennal sensilla of H. licarsisalis adults are more than those of C. medinalis adults. Sensilla auricillica Ⅳ were only found on the antennae of H. licarsisalis adults. The location, number, density and some eigenvalues of antennal sensilla are different in the two pyralid adults. 【Conclusion】H. licarsisalis and C. medinalis adults have the same types of antennal sensilla, but have some differences in the subtypes. The number of sensilla trichodea on the male antennae is significantly higher than that on the female antennae. The number of sensilla styloconica Ⅱ can be used to distinguish the two pyralid adults. The ultramorphology of antennal sensilla provides new characteristics for the taxonomic and phylogenetic study of Pyraloidea, and also provides the morphological basis for the study of the function of antennal sensilla and for the exploration of the olfactory sensory mechanism of antennae.

Key words: Herpetogramma licarsisalis, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, antennae, sensilla, ultramorphology