| Abstract: | At least five nonporous sensilla with inflexible sockets (npsensilla) occur on each antenna of both sexes of adult Rhodnius prolixus. Externally the sensillum appears as a short, rounded peg set into a pit surrounded by a depression. A very electron-dense material occurs in the peg lumen and the inner aspect of the pit. Filamentous extensions of this material radiate into the overlying outlets. Each sensillum is innervated by three neurons with unbranched dendrites. Two dendrites extend to the peg tip and distally are covered by a dendritic sheath. The portion of these dendrites within the sheath contains a large number of microtubules. The third dendrite terminates near the base of the dentritic sheath and partially wraps around the other two dendrites. Three sheath cells are associated with each sensillum. Based on similarities in structure with sensilla of known function it is probable that the np-sensilla of R. prolixus are thermo-/hygrosensilla responding to cold, dryness and wetness. The sensilla have a number of structural similarities with insect rectal sheath cells known to absorb atmospheric water by electroosmosis. Possibly this process leads to volumetric alterations of cuticular elements associated with the dendrites and ultimately to mechanotransduction. |
