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Restricted diet breadth of the larvae of A ntheraea assamensis and the role of the labrum‐epipharynx and galeal sensilla
Author(s) -
Bora Dipsikha,
Deka Bhabesh,
Sen Avolikiteswar
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
entomological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1748-5967
pISSN - 1738-2297
DOI - 10.1111/1748-5967.12159
Subject(s) - galea , biology , labrum , larva , instar , food plant , host (biology) , anatomy , zoology , botany , ecology , paleontology , arthroscopy
Abstract The silkworm, A ntheraea assamensis H elfer ( L epidoptera: S aturniidae), grows primarily on P ersea bombycina and L itsea polyantha . To understand if the restricted diet breadth is due to the specific role of gustatory sensilla of the larvae of A . assamensis , the same fifth instar larvae retaining only labrum‐epipharynx or galeal sensilla were subjected to food choice tests. The foods used were leaves of two host‐plant and two non‐host‐plant species. Mean per cent consumption and per cent of choosing larvae were used as parameters for drawing conclusions. The finding indicated involvement of the labrum‐epipharynx for acceptance and galeal sensilla for rejection of a non‐host‐plant species. Scanning electron microscope studies revealed the presence of two sensilla on the galea, one lateral and one medial sensilla styloconicum and two gustatory sensilla in the epipharynx of A . assamensis . The study revealed the key role of galeal sensilla in the restrictive diet‐breadth of A . assamensis .