The role of contact chemoreception in the host location process of an egg parasitoid

Taste allows insects to detect palatable or toxic foods, identify a mate, and select appropriate oviposition sites. The gustatory system strongly contributes to the survival and reproductive success of many species, yet it is rarely studied in insect parasitoids. In order to locate and assess a host in which they will lay their eggs, female wasps actively search for chemical cues using their sensory organs present mainly on the antennae. In this paper, we studied the role of antennal taste sensilla chaetica in the perception of contact semiochemicals in Trissolcus brochymenae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), an egg parasitoid of the brassicaceae pest Murgantia histrionica (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). Methanolic extracts obtained from male and female hosts elicited action potentials in taste neurons housed in antennal sensilla chaetica, indicating that these sensilla are involved in the perception of non volatile host kairomones. In behavioural assays, wasp females displayed an intense searching behaviour in open arenas treated with host extracts, thus confirming that these kairomones are soluble in polar solvents. We further investigated the extracts by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and found that they contain several compounds which are good candidates for these contact kairomones. This study contributes to better understanding contact chemoreception in egg parasitoids and identifying gustatory receptor neurons involved in the host location process.     

草地贪夜蛾幼虫对四种刺激物质的味觉感受和取食选择

【目的】为了筛选有效的草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda幼虫取食激食素和抑制剂并探究其味觉感受机理,为生态防治草地贪夜蛾提供理论和实践上的依据。【方法】利用单感受器记录法测定草地贪夜蛾5龄第2天幼虫下颚外颚叶上中栓锥感器和侧栓锥感器对不同浓度的蔗糖、黑芥子苷、单宁酸和盐酸奎宁4种刺激物质的电生理反应,并采用二项叶碟法测定草地贪夜蛾幼虫对这些刺激物质的取食选择行为。【结果】草地贪夜蛾幼虫中栓锥感器和侧栓锥感器内均存在对蔗糖、黑芥子苷和单宁酸敏感的味觉受体神经元,但是神经元的活性随着刺激物的种类及浓度而变化。其中,两类感器内神经元对蔗糖和黑芥子苷的反应均呈现典型的浓度梯度反应。中栓锥感器内存在对盐酸奎宁敏感的味觉受体神经元,但是呈现逆浓度梯度的反应模式,侧栓锥感器内不存在对盐酸奎宁敏感的神经元。蔗糖显著诱导幼虫的取食行为,而盐酸奎宁、黑芥子苷和单宁酸均抑制幼虫的取食行为,且都呈现浓度梯度的抑制活性。【结论】草地贪夜蛾幼虫中栓锥感器和侧栓锥感器内均存在对取食激食素和抑制剂敏感的味觉受体神经元,但是两类感器不论在反应谱上还是敏感性上均存在差异。蔗糖可以作为取食激食素,盐酸奎宁、黑芥子苷和单宁酸可以作为取食抑制剂的有效候选物质。幼虫对蔗糖、黑芥子苷和单宁酸的味觉反应在一定程度上解释了其取食选择行为的味觉基础。本研究为草地贪夜蛾的生态防治提供了味觉信息。     

Flavonoids from cabbage are feeding stimulants for diamondback moth larvae additional to glucosinolates: Chemoreception and behaviour

In caterpillars two styloconic contact chemoreceptors on the maxillary galea are assumed to contain the main taste receptors involved in host plant selection. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. is a specialist feeder of plants in the Brassicaceae, a plant family characterized by the biosynthesis of glucosinolates. We used pea (Pisum sativum L., Leguminosae) as a neutral non-host for a dual-choice leaf disc assay to quantify feeding stimulation by glucosinolates and flavonoids. Increasing concentrations of sinigrin resulted in significant preferences for sinigrin-treated leaf discs, with a threshold between 1 and 3 M. Millimolar concentrations of four of the five flavonol triglucosides likewise elicited a significant preference for flavonoid-treated leaf discs. A mixture of four flavonoids and sinigrin was significantly preferred over sinigrin-treated leaf discs alone. Vigorous unicellular electrophysiological responses of medial maxillary styloconic taste sensilla were observed in response to five glucosinolates (glucocapparin, sinigrin, glucobrassicin, glucoiberin, and gluconasturtiin). This medial taste neuron responded in a dose-dependent manner to a concentration series of sinigrin, with a threshold of response of ca. 1 M. The lateral sensillum styloconicum contained a neuron sensitive to sucrose, glucose, and fructose. However, no responses in the two types of maxillary styloconic sensilla to the phagostimulatory flavonoids could be detected, suggesting that other taste organs mediate chemoreception of flavonoids. We conclude that diamondback moth larvae employ a combination of biosynthetically distinct categories of feeding stimulants which allows for a higher degree of discriminatory ability than when this would be based on glucosinolates alone.     

Electrophysiological responses of the chemoreceptor neurones in the antennal taste sensilla to plant alkaloids and glucosides in a granivorous ground beetle

The electrophysiological response of chemoreceptor neurones from the antennal chaetoid taste sensilla of the omnivorous ground beetle Pterostichus oblongopunctatus to several plant alkaloids and glucosides is investigated. A quinine‐sensitive neurone responding to quinine and quinine hydrochloride is found, most probably related to the granivorous feeding habit of P. oblongopunctatus. The response to quinine hydrochloride is concentration‐dependent at 0.001–50 mm , with the response threshold at 0.01 mm and a maximum rate of firing of 67 spikes/s at 50 mm . The stimulatory effect of caffeine is very weak, where the firing rate increases by only 1.4 spikes/s at a concentration of 10 mm compared with that evoked by a control stimulus. In addition, both quinine and quinine hydrochloride strongly inhibit spike production by the salt‐ and pH‐sensitive neurones when presented in mixtures with 10 mm NaCl. Several tested plant secondary compounds (i.e. salicin, sinigrin, caffeine and nicotine), which have only little or no effect on the firing rate of the quinine‐sensitive neurone, greatly reduce the responses of the salt‐ and pH‐sensitive neurones. The results of the present study suggest that the antennal taste sensilla of P. oblongopunctatus may detect plant defensive compounds both through the activation of a quinine‐sensitive neurone and via peripheral inhibition of other chemoreceptor neurones of the taste sensillum.     

中红侧沟茧蜂触角感受器的扫描电镜观察

利用扫描电镜对中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator的触角感受器进行了观察,发现了6个类型的感器,分别为毛形感器、板形感器、刺形感器、钟形感器、锥形感器、腔锥形感器。其中,毛形感器具有2种形态,锥形感器具有4种形态。钟形感器仅分布于雌蜂的触角上,锥形感器Ⅲ和Ⅳ仅分布于雄蜂的触角上。结合感受器的形态、分布和已报道的触角电位反应数据,对各感受器的功能进行了推测。     

Effect of age on the responsiveness of peripheral chemosensory sensilla of the turnip root fly (Delia floralis)

The effect of insect age on the neural responsiveness of gustatory sensilla was investigated. Electrophysiological recordings were obtained from type A and type D sensilla on the pro- and meso-thoracic tarsi, and from sensilla on the labellum of the turnip root fly,Delia floralis (Fallen) in response to potassium chloride, sucrose and sinigrin. The age of the fly did have an effect on the numbers of sensilla responding to the test stimuli and on the magnitude of the response, but there was no consistent pattern in these effects among sensilla. The labellar sensilla were more responsive to sucrose than the tarsal sensilla and the proportion of flies whose labellar sensilla responded to sucrose was initially low, but increased after day 2 of adult life. In contrast, the number of flies whose tarsal sensilla responded to stimulation with sucrose was initially high and decreased as the flies aged. There was a similar decline in the proportion of tarsal sensilla responding to potassium chloride. Neither the proportion of flies whose tarsal sensilla responded to sinigrin nor the magnitude of the response was influenced by the age of the fly. These finding are discussed in relation to the feeding and host selection behaviour of the fly.     

Sensilla on antennae,ovipositor and tarsi of the larval parasitoids,Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron 1906) and Cotesia flavipes Cameron 1891 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): a comparative scanning electron microscopy study

Two braconid parasitoids of cereal stemborers in eastern Africa, Cotesia sesamiae and Cotesia flavipes, have been shown to display a similar hierarchy of behavioural events during host recognition and acceptance. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying host recognition and acceptance, the morphology of antennal sensilla on the last antennomeres, on the ovipositor, and on the fifth tarsomere and pretarsus of the prothoracic legs tarsi were studied using scanning electron microscopy followed by selective silver nitrate staining. It appeared that female C. sesamiae and C. flavipes shared the same types and distribution of sensory receptors, which enable them to detect volatiles and contact chemical stimuli from their hosts. In both parasitoids, four types of sensilla were identified on the three terminal antennomeres: (i) non-porous sensilla trichodea likely to be involved in mechanoreception, (ii) uniporous sensilla chaetica with porous tips that have gustatory functions, (iii) multiporous sensilla placodea, which are likely to have olfactory function, and (iv) sensilla coeloconica known to have thermo-hygroreceptive function. The tarsi of both parasitoids possessed a few uniporous sensilla chaetica with porous tips, which may have gustatory functions. The distal end of the ovipositor bore numerous dome-shaped sensilla. However, there were no sensilla coeloconica or styloconica, known to have gustatory function in other parasitoid species, on the ovipositors of the two braconid wasps.     

Sugar concentration and timing of feeding affect feeding characteristics and survival of a parasitic wasp

The availability of food sources is important for parasitoid survival, especially for those that inhabit ecosystems where nectar and honeydew are spatially or temporally scarce. Therefore, the value of even a single meal can be crucial for survival. Psyttalia lounsburyi is a parasitoid, and biological control agent, of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae. In order to improve our understanding of the basic nutritional ecology of P. lounsburyi and its role in survival we evaluated the effect of a single sucrose meal on the longevity of female and male wasps. We measured the duration of feeding, volume ingested, sucrose consumption, energy content, and longevity of wasps provided with different concentrations of sucrose (0.5, 1, and 2 M) at different times after emergence (0, 1, 2 or 3 days after emergence). Our results showed that longevity was significantly influenced by sucrose concentration and timing of feeding. For females, feeding on sucrose increased the likelihood of survival to varying degrees, ranging from 32.3% to 95.4%, compared to water-only controls. The longest duration of feeding was observed for the highest sucrose concentrations and oldest wasps. The amount of sugar ingested and energy uptake increased, up to a point, as sugar concentration increased. Our results suggest that P. lounsburyi derived greatest benefit from the intermediate concentration (1 M) of sucrose provided 2 or 3 days after emergence. Our study emphasizes the importance of finding balance between increasing longevity and limiting the duration of feeding, and concomitant uptake of nutrients, that is fundamental for survival of the wasp in nature.     

Comparison of the antennal sensilla of females of four fig-wasps associated with Ficus auriculata

A comparison was performed of the antennal sensilla of females of four chalcid wasp species Ceratosolen emarginatus Mayr, 1906, Sycophaga sp., Philotrypesis longicaudata Mayr, 1906, and Sycoscapter roxburghi Joseph, 1957, which are specific and obligatory associated with Ficus auriculata (Lour, 1790). The four species exhibit different oviposition strategies in the fig ovules where their offspring hatch and develop. Antennal sensilla morphology was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. Females of the four species present 11 morphologically similar types of sensilla: trichoid sensilla, sensilla obscura, chaetica sensilla 1 and 2, which all have mechanosensory functions; uniporous basiconic sensilla, which are presumably contact chemosensilla; basiconic capitate peg sensilla, coeloconic sensilla 1, multiporous basiconic and placoid sensilla, which may be regarded as olfactory sensilla, and coeloconic sensilla 2 and 3, which are presumed to be proprioreceptors or pressure receptors. The four species have significant differences in the abundance and arrangement of trichoid sensilla and chaetica sensilla 1 on the flagellum. The coeloconic sensilla and sensilla obscura only occur on the antennae of C. emarginatus that enter figs. The chemosensilla which are presumably involved in host discrimination, i.e., basiconic sensilla, multiporous placoid sensilla and basiconic capitate peg sensilla, are similar in shape and configuration, although they present some differences in abundance. These findings provide practical information on the adaptations of fig wasps and the relationship between multisensory antennae and functions in fig wasp behaviour.     

An Analysis of Hamster Afferent Taste Nerve Response Functions

Sensitivities to moderately intense stimuli representing four taste qualities to man were determined for 79 hamster chorda tympani fibers. Some fibers were very sensitive to sucrose, sodium chloride, or hydrochloric acid, but none were very sensitive to quinine. These sensitivities were not randomly distributed among fibers: the sucrose sensitivity was separated from and negatively correlated with the other sensitivities which were associated and positively correlated with each other. Moreover, there were a limited number of sensitivity patterns: (a) fibers responding best to sucrose responded second-best to salt, less to acid, not to quinine; (b) fibers responding best to salt either responded second-best to sucrose and not to acid or quinine; or second-best to acid, less to quinine, and not to sucrose; and (c) fibers responding best to acid responded second-best to salt, more to quinine, and less to sucrose than other fibers. Therefore, if four stimuli of different taste qualities are ordered from acceptable to unacceptable, neural response functions of most hamster chorda tympani taste fibers peak at one point. Sensitivities to nine other moderately intense stimuli which vary in quality to man were also determined for 46–49 of the fibers. Sensitivities to sweet stimuli were always associated with each other and separated from sensitivities to nonsweet stimuli. Sensitivities to nonsweet stimuli were all associated with each other; however, the strongest correlations were between sensitivities to stimuli of like quality, e.g., the three acids or the two sodium salts.     

Electrophysiological characterization of responses from gustatory receptor neurons of sensilla chaetica in the moth Heliothis virescens

Discrimination of edible and noxious food is crucial for survival in all organisms. We have studied the physiology of the gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in contact chemosensilla (insect gustatory organs) located on the antennae of the moth Heliothis virescens, emphasizing putative phagostimulants and deterrents. Sucrose and the 2 bitter substances quinine and sinigrin elicited responses in a larger proportion of GRNs than inositol, KCl, NaCl, and ethanol, and the firing thresholds were lowest for sucrose and quinine. Variations in GRN composition in individual sensilla occurred without any specific patterns to indicate specific sensillum types. Separate neurons showed excitatory responses to sucrose and the 2 bitter substances quinine and sinigrin, implying that the moth might be able to discriminate bitter substances in addition to separating phagostimulants and deterrents. Besides being detected by separate receptors on the moth antennae, the bitter tastants were shown to have an inhibitory effect on phagostimulatory GRNs. Sucrose was highly appetitive in behavioral studies of proboscis extension, whereas quinine had a nonappetitive effect in the moths.     

Electrophysiological responses of galeal contact chemoreceptors of Apis mellifera to selected sugars and electrolytes

Using conventional electrophysiological methods, the galeal sensilla chaetica of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, responded linearly to the log of solute concentrations of sucrose, glucose, fructose, NaCl, KCl, and LiCl but not to CaCl₂ or MgCl₂, which failed to give consistent responses. These sensillae had much higher firing rates for sugar than salt solutions; their relative responses to lower concentrations being NaCl < KCl < LiCl ? fructose < glucose ? sucrose. At higher concentrations NaCl < LiCl < KCl ? glucose < fructose ? sucrose. Four different spike types were seen. The first type had the highest amplitude and resulted from sugar stimulation. The second type had a lower height and occurred in the first 30 sec of salt stimulation. A third type with the lowest height appeared with those of the second type after prolonged stimulation with KCl. A fourth type with a high amplitude resulted from mechanical stimulation. The sensilla adapted to sugar solutions linearly to the logarithm of time and non-linearly to the log of salt concentrations. Glucose-fructose mixed-sugar solution effected synergism of response while sucrose solutions caused inhibition when mixed with glucose and/or fructose. Responses of the sensilla to mechanical stimulation showed phasic-tonic characteristics. None of the sensilla tested responded to water.     

Morphology of antennal sensilla of the brown spruce longhorn beetle,Tetropium fuscum (Fabr.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The antennal sensilla of the brown spruce longhorn beetle, Tetropium fuscum (Fabr.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) were examined with particular focus on the sensilla present on the apical flagellomere. T. fuscum antennae are composed of 11 segments, namely the scape, pedicel, and nine flagellomeres. Nine types of sensilla were observed: three types of sensilla chaetica, sensilla trichodea, two types of sensilla basiconica, grooved peg sensilla, thick-walled sensilla, and Böhm bristles. Seven of these types were present on the apical flagellomere, the exceptions were sensilla chaetica type 3 and Böhm bristles. There were no significant differences in the distribution or density of sensilla present on the ninth flagellomere of males and females, except that males had significantly more sensilla chaetica type 1, which are put forward as the putative contact chemoreceptors for T. fuscum.     

Scanning Electron Microscopy Studies of the Antennal Sensilla of Metaphycus parasaissetiae Zhang & Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Metaphycus parasaissetiae Zhang & Huang (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is an important adult parasitoid of Parasaissetia nigra Nietner (Hemiptera: Coccoidea). The external morphology of the antennal sensilla of male and female M. parasaissetiae was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The geniculate antennae of male and female M. parasaissetiae were composed of a scape with a basal radicula, a barrel-shaped pedicel, and a long flagellum. Twelve morphologically distinct types of sensilla were identified, including multiporous placoid sensilla, campaniform sensilla, finger-like sensilla, multiporous basiconic sensilla (BS-1), three aporous types of basiconic sensilla (BS-2, BS-3, and BS-4), two types of aporous trichoid sensilla (TS-1 and TS-3), a type of multiporous trichoid sensilla (TS-2), and two types of sensilla chaetica (CH-1 and CH-2). Sex dimorphism in the sensilla composition of M. parasaissetiae is also observed. Major differences between the sexes were found in the number, distribution, shape, structure, and size of the identified sensilla. We also discuss on the functional aspects of these sensilla to elucidate the mechanisms involved in host searching and courtship behavior of M. parasaissetiae.     

Antennal and ovipositor sensilla of Pseudoligosita yasumatsui (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Pseudoligosita yasumatsui Viggiani and Subba Rao 1978 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is a common egg parasitoid of rice insect pests. The surface morphology of the antenna and ovipositor on P. yasumatsui was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The antenna of P. yasumatsui is geniculate in shape, hinged at the scape-pedicel joint, approximately 190 μm in length and consists of seven antennomeres. In total, the male and female antennae have ten different types of sensilla: trichoid sensilla type 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, campaniform sensilla, basiconic sensilla, and placoid sensilla type 1 and 2. The flagellum of the female antenna is covered with cuticular pores, which are absent on the male antennal flagellum. The distal extremity of its ovipositor stylet has campaniform sensilla and styloconic sensilla. Trichoid sensilla found on its apical abdomen part may play a role in the host detection and egg placement. The types and distribution of antennal and ovipositor sensilla on the parasitoid were discussed.     

Function and central projections of gustatory receptor neurons on the antenna of the noctuid moth Spodoptera littoralis

Chemosensory information is crucial for most insects to feed and reproduce. Olfactory signals are mainly used at a distance, whereas gustatory stimuli play an important role when insects directly contact chemical substrates. In noctuid moths, although the antennae are the main olfactory organ, they also bear taste sensilla. These taste sensilla detect sugars and hence are involved in appetitive learning but could also play an important role in food evaluation by detecting salts and bitter substances. To investigate this, we measured the responses of individual taste sensilla on the antennae of Spodoptera littoralis to sugars and salts using tip recordings. We also traced the projections of their neuronal axons into the brain. In each sensillum, we found one or two neurons responding to sugars: one NaCl-responsive and one water-sensitive neuron. Responses of these neurons were dose-dependent and similar across different locations on the antenna. Responses were dependent on the sex for sucrose and on both sex and location for glucose and fructose. We did not observe a spatial map for the projections from specific regions of the antennae to the deutocerebrum or the tritocerebrum/suboesophageal ganglion complex. In accordance with physiological recordings, back-fills from individual sensilla revealed up to four axons, in most cases targeting different projection zones.     

Sense organs on the ovipositor of Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): their probable role in stinging,oviposition and host selection process

Parasitoid wasps from the insect order Hymenoptera can be deployed successfully as biological control agents for a number of pests, and have previously been introduced for the control of corn pest insect species from the Lepidopteran genus Ostrinia. Organs on the ovipositor of parasitoid wasps have mechanical and tactile senses that coordinate the complex movements of egg laying, and the ovipositor of Hymenopteran insects have evolved associated venom glands as part of their stinging defense. The ovipositor of parasitic wasps has evolved an additional function as a piercing organ that is required for the deposition of eggs within suitable host larvae. The morphology and ultrastructure of sense organs on the ovipositor and sheath of Macrocentrus cingulum Brischke (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are described using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Three types of sensilla trichodea were shown to be abundant on the outer sheath of the ovipositor, with types II and III being most distal, and the inner surface of the ovipositor covered with microtrichia, more densely near the apex. Sensilla coeloconica are distributed on both ventral and dorsal valves, while campaniform sensilla and secretory pores are only located on the dorsal valve. The olistheter-like interlocking mechanism, as well as the morphology of the ventral and dorsal valve tips and the ventral valve seal may be important in stinging, oviposition and in the host selection process.     

Physiology of feeding-preference patterns of female black blowflies (Phormia regina Meigen): Alterations in responsiveness to salts

Electrophysiological recordings of tarsal and labellar contact chemosensilla in Phormia regina females demonstrate activation of sugar-, cation-, and possibly anion-sensitive cells in response to 10% yeast extract. Yeast extract is a proteinaceous food source that supports full egg development. Though some protein is required for egg maturation in Phormia, a blowfly not normally autogenous, purified proteins alone neither activate the chemosensilla nor promote egg development. In experiments reported here, groups of females were given ad lib access to either 0.2 M sucrose or 0.2 M sucrose and 10% yeast for four days after eclosion. The sucrose diet induced a ‘protein’ preference but no egg development. Potassium and sodium salts were added to 0.2 M sucrose and presented to the flies on day six. The volumes of salt-sucrose mixtures taken were greater than those of 0.2 M sucrose for flies raised on 0.2 M sucrose, though yeast was preferred over all but one salt solution. For sucrose-and-yeast-fed flies, volumes of 0.05 and 0.1 M salt mixtures consumed did not differ from 0.2 M sucrose; however, sucrose alone was favoured over more concentrated salt mixtures. All salt-sucrose mixtures tested were significantly more effective stimuli for sucrose-and-yeast-fed flies than yeast. It is suggested that varying sensitivity in the salt-sensitive contact chemosensilla plays a role in reported food preference shifts associated with reproduction.     

Cabbage waxes affect Trissolcus brochymenae response to short‐range synomones

We show that induced synomones, emitted as a consequence of Murgantia histrionica activity on Brassica oleracea, are adsorbed by the epicuticular waxes of leaves and perceived by the egg parasitoid Trissolcus brochymenae. Leaves were exposed to M. histrionica females placed on the abaxial leaf surface. After 24 h, the leaves were treated mechanically using gum arabic, or chemically using chloroform, on the adaxial surface, and finally the adaxial surface was assayed with T. brochymenae by two‐choice tests in a closed arena. Wasp females responded to mechanically dewaxed cabbage leaf portions with feeding punctures and footprints (Ff) and with feeding punctures, oviposition and footprints (FOf), showing no effect of wax removal. In contrast, the removal of the epicuticular waxes from leaf portions close to FOf, and from leaves with oviposition and footprints (Of), determined the lack of responses by T. brochymenae. Solvent extracts of different treatments were bioassayed, but only FOf triggered parasitoid response. Thus the detection of oviposition‐induced synomones by the parasitoid depends on their adsorption by the epicuticular waxes. Mechanical wax removal from leaf portions contaminated with host footprints (f) also determined a lack of wasp responses, suggesting that the footprints might trigger the induction of a “footprint‐induced synomone” adsorbed onto the epicuticular waxes and exploited by the parasitoid. Leaf portions with the abaxial lamina previously dewaxed and then contaminated by footprints (D+f) of M. histrionica did not affect the parasitoid response, indicating that the abaxial epicuticular waxes are not directly involved in the chemicals induced by M. histrionica footprints.     

External morphology of antennal sensilla of four species of adult flea beetles (Coleoptera : chrysomelidae : alticinae)

External morphology of antennal sensilla of both sexes of Phyllotetra cruciferae (Goeze) and Psylloides punctulata Melsh, both of which feed on the mustard family Cruciferae, and Epitrix cucumeris (Harris) and Psylloides affinis (Paykell), both of which feed on the nightshade family Solanaceae, was studied using scanning electron microscopy. All belong to Alticinae (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae). The number and distribution of antennal sensilla were also determined. Eight types of sensilla could be distinguished on the flagella of the species examined: sensilla chaetica; sensilla trichodea I and II; long sensilla basiconica I and II; and short sensilla basiconica I, II and III. The sensilla chaetica are probable tactile mechanosensilla, whereas both types of sensilla trichodea and long sensilla basiconica likely function in olfaction. Suggested functions for the short sensilla basiconica I, II and III include hygro-/thermoreception and chemoreception.The lack of sexual dimorphism in antennal structure and in types as well as number of sensilla, indicates that the sensilla probably have similar functions in both sexes. Probably most of the antennal olfactory sensilla are involved in host location and recognition. Any correlation between number of a particular type of sensillum or total number of all types and general host preference is not apparent.