Abstract: Understanding copulation behavior of chalcids can help the development of techniques for manipulating chalcid behavior, and thereby increase the efficacy of chalcids as biological control agents in insect pest management. The effect of compound eyes and antennae on copulation behavior of Tetrastichus brontispae Ferrière was studied by smearing its compound eyes and antennae with water-soluble melanin pigment and liquid paraffin, respectively The ultrastructure of compound eye and sensilla on antenna of T. brontispae was observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the differences of distribution and quantity of sensilla on antenna of two sexes were analyzed. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the role of the compound eye of the chalcid in copulation behavior between two sexes. The importance of every segment to copulation of male chalcid decreased in the order of antennal scape, antennal club, and antennal flagellum, but for the female the order was antennal flagellum, antennal club, and antennal scape. Eight distinct types of the sensilla were found on antenna with scanning electron microscope. As the major sensilla, both sensillum trichodeum and sensillum placodeum were distributed widely on the antenna. Moreover, there was an obvious sexual dimorphism of antenna of the chalcid as shown by different size of the antenna and different shape, size, number and distribution of the sensilla.

Key words: Tetrastichus brontispae, copulation behavior, compound eye, antenna, ultrastructure, scanning electron microscope (SEM)