Acta Entomologica Sinica ›› 2016, Vol. 59 ›› Issue (12): 1340-1347.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2016.12.007

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Observation of the sensilla on female adult antenna and larval head of Agrotis ypsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) with scanning electron microscope

XIANG Yu-Yong1,2, KONG Dan-Dan2, LIU Tong-Xian1, ZHANG Shi-Ze1,*   

  1. (1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; 2. School of Biology and Food Engineering, Chuzhou University, Chuzhou, Anhui 239000, China)
  • Online:2016-12-20 Published:2016-12-20

Abstract: 【Aim】 To clarify the types, morphology, quantity and distribution of sensilla on the female adult antenna and larval head of Agrotis ypsilon. 【Methods】 The sensilla on female adult antenna and the head of the 5th instar larva of A. ypsilon were observed with scanning electron microscope. 【Results】 Five types of chemoreceptors, including sensillum trichodeum, sensillum chaeticum, sensillum coeloconicum, sensillum auricillicum and sensillum basiconicum, were found on female adult antenna of A. ypsilon. For the 5th instar larva of A. ypsilon, the head is oval and hypognathous with chewing mouthparts; the larval head comprises of antenna, ocelli, ecdysial line, setae, clypeus, frons, labrum, mandibles, maxillae, maxillary palpi, labium, labial palpi and fusula; one sensillum trichodeum and four sensilla basiconica were found on the antenna; one sensillum trichodeum and one sensillum chaeticum were found on the mandible, and three sensilla trichodea, three sensilla chaetica, four sensilla basiconica and one sensillum styloconicum were found on the maxilla and maxillary palpus; one sensillum styloconicum and one sensillum basiconicum were found on labial palpus, and one sensillum chaeticum was found on the front of each side of fusula. 【Conclusion】 The quantity of sensilla on female adult antenna of A. ypsilon is more than that on its larval head. It is supposed that female adults use these sensilla to choose host plants and oviposition environment. The sensilla on larval mouthparts are associated with gustation and olfaction, and larvae use them to judge the varieties and suitability of foods.

Key words: Agrotis ypsilon, female adult antenna, larval head, sensillum, scanning electron microscope