Acta Entomologica Sinica ›› 2017, Vol. 60 ›› Issue (1): 24-33.doi: 10.16380/j.kcxb.2017.01.004

• RESEARCH PAPERS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Ultrastructures of antennal sensilla of adult females of Porphyrophora sophorae (Coccoidea: Margarodidae)(In English

WANG Xu1, XIE Ying-Ping1,*, ZHANG Yan-Feng1, LIU Wei-Min1, WANG Quan-Liang2   

  1. (1. School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China;2. Xiangfen Agricultural Bureau of Shanxi, Xiangfen, Shanxi 041500, China)
  • Online:2017-01-20 Published:2017-01-20

Abstract: 【Aim】 Porphyrophora sophorae Arch. (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Margarodidae) is a species of soil-inhabiting scale insects. This study aims to relate the structure and adaptability of the antennae to the soil-inhabiting behaviors of P.sophorae. 【Methods】 The antennae and antennal sensilla of adult females of P. sophorae were observed under light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). 【Results】 The results show that the antennae of adult females of P. sophorae are composed of nine segments. All of the antennal segments are short and wide, and the intersegments are compactly connected, which makes the antennae sturdy. A total of 29-48 sensilla in four types, e.g., 2-5 Böhm’s bristle (Bb), 5-12 aporous sensilla trichodea (ASt), 10-15 coeloconic sensilla (Co) and 11-22 multiporous pegs (Mp) are observed on the antennae. According to their structures, the sensilla Bb, ASt, Co and Mp are speculated to function as a proprioreceptor, tactile sensilla, thermo-/hygrosensory and olfactory sensilla, respectively. These sensilla are mainly located on three segments as follows: 2-4 Bb on the scape; 6-10 Co on the flagellomere F3; and the largest number of sensilla, including 3-8 Co, 4-11 ASt and 11-22 Mp on the flagellomere F7 (top segment). The other segments have almost no sensillum. 【Conclusion】 The antennae of the adult females of P.sophorae have many characteristics different from other scale insects, and these characteristics are adaptive to their soil-inhabiting behaviors.

Key words: Porphyrophora sophorae, soilinhabiting, antennal morphology, sensillar distribution, ultrastructure