Abstract: | Five types of sensilla are situated on the apical area of the labial and maxillary palpi and galea of Cicidela sexguttata. Large, conical, and peg-like sensilla are in rows on the central region of each palpus. These sensilla have a hollow cuticular peg, with an apical pore and multi-innervation. This central region of palpal sensilla is surrounded by campaniform sensilla that are disc-shaped and small conical peg sensilla. A similar type of conical sensillum as the found in the palpal central region is situated around the periphery of the palpal apex and apex of the galea. This conical peg sensillum is located in a shallow depression and is structurally similar to the other peg sensilla, but it has a mechanoreceptor neuron attached to the cuticular base of the sensillum. A long, single, trichoid sensillum is situated in the center of the galea and is hollow, thick-walled, porous, and multi-innervated. The apices of the palpi and galea have a large number of dermal gland openings that actively secrete a substance during the feeding process of the tiger beetle. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |