Acta Entomologica Sinica ›› 1995, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (1): 8-12.

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE TRICHOID SENSILLUM ON THE ANTENNA OF THE MALE PINE CATERPILLARMOTH, DENDROLIMUS PUNCTATUS WALKER) (LEPIDOPTERA: LASIOCAMPIDAE)

ZHANG SHANGAN MA SHUFANG FU HONGLAN CHEN TEMING   

  • Online:1995-02-20 Published:1995-02-20

Abstract: The male pine caterpillar moth Dendrolirnus punctatus (Walker) hasa pair of feather-like antennae. The trichoid sensilla are arranged on the inner side (windward side) surface of the antennal stem and branch in each flagella segment. Each trichoid sensillum consists of a cuticular hair, three sensory neurons and three auxiliary cellsthecogen, trichogen and tormogen cells which are arranged in concentric array and serve as the envelope of the neurons. The hair wall is penetrated by many pores. The lumen of the hair is filled with sensillum fluid within which the dendrites of the neurons are immersed. As having proved by single cell recording in the insects of the same family, most likely the trichoid sensillure might possibly be responsible for perception of female produced sex pheromone and thus for the orientation in mating.

Key words: Pine caterpillar moth, antenna, trichoid sensillum, olfactory chemoreceptor, sex pheromone receptor