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Structure and function of the antennae of Euphydryas editha (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Author(s) -
Odendaal F. J.,
Ehrlich P. R.,
Thomas F. C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051840102
Subject(s) - nymphalidae , biology , lepidoptera genitalia , sensillum , sexual dimorphism , zoology , anatomy , ecology
Males of Euphydryas editha (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) need their antennae to mate successfully, but females do not. Antennal structure was investigated in the hope of explaining this functional dimorphism, which is opposite to that in other butterflies (e.g., Myers, '68; Grula and Taylor, '80). No external differences between the sexes were observed with electron microscopy. There are four types of antennal sensilla: the spine, which acts mainly as a mechanoreceptor, shallow dish hairs and hidden hairs, which are chemoreceptors, and a whiplike sensillum of uncertain function. The internal morphology of male and female antennae differs in several respects which may relate to functional differences. The mating systems of butterflies are discussed briefly to explain our results and those of others.