Open AccessFunctional morphology of antennae and sensilla of Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Author(s) -
Yanan Hao,
YuanXing Sun,
Changzhong Liu
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0237452
Subject(s) - scape , bristle , coccinellidae , biology , antenna (radio) , morphology (biology) , pedicel , anatomy , botany , zoology , ecology , predation , telecommunications , brush , computer science , electrical engineering , engineering , predator
The lady beetle Hippodamia variegata is an important biocontrol agent of many aphids. In this study, the fine morphology of antennae as well as the typology, morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla were comprehensively examined by scanning electron microscopy. The antennal morphology of female and male are similar and consist of the scape, pedicel, and nine flagellomeres. No significant difference was detected in the length of each segment between two sexes, while the male antennae are much stronger than females. In total, six types of sensilla can be defined on antenna, including Böhm bristle, sensilla chaetica (with three subtypes), sensilla basiconica (with three subtypes), sensilla trichodea, sensilla placodea and sensilla coeloconica. It is worth noting that sensilla chaetica III distributed only on the fixed position of male antennae. In addition, the functional morphology of antennae of H . variegata were compared with other lady beetles from multiple perspectives. Specially, the function of sensilla were also discussed according to their morphology, location and information from previous studies.