How to translate text using browser tools
2 November 2015 Antennal Sensilla of Fig Wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae): Function-Driven Elaboration in Females and Degeneration in Males
Jing Meng, Dawei Huang, Jinhua Xiao, Wenjun Bu
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Within the closed fig cavity packed with hundreds to thousands of fig wasps from multiple species, sensory structures on the antennae permit males to locate conspecific females for reproduction. When fig wasp females are seeking suitable figs for oviposition, antennal sensory structures perceive volatile compounds released from the target figs. In the present study, we investigated the sexual dimorphism of these important antennal sensillae by scanning electron microscopy. The antennal sensilla of Ceratosolen solmsi marchali Mayr, Philotrypesis pilosa Mayr, Philotrypesis sp., and Apocrypta bakeri Joseph in Ficus hispida displayed extreme dimorphism, with elaborated structures in females compared with degenerated structures in males. Sensilla coeloconica were absent in A. bakeri, but present in females of the other three species. Sensilla styloconica were present in both males and females of C. solmsi marchali, but were seen only in female of the other three species. Sensilla campaniformica, leaf-like sensilla, stylet-like sensilla, and bomb's hairs were seen only in female C. solmsi marchali. Sensilla short chaetica were only seen in Philotrypesis sp. The degeneration of male antennal sensilla of all studied fig wasps was important, but variable between species. In conclusion, sexual dimorphism of antennal sensilla of four species in Ficus hispida was consistent with their divergent biological and behavioral functions.

© The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com
Jing Meng, Dawei Huang, Jinhua Xiao, and Wenjun Bu "Antennal Sensilla of Fig Wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae): Function-Driven Elaboration in Females and Degeneration in Males," Annals of the Entomological Society of America 109(1), 99-105, (2 November 2015). https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/sav084
Received: 3 September 2014; Accepted: 29 July 2015; Published: 2 November 2015
JOURNAL ARTICLE
7 PAGES

This article is only available to subscribers.
It is not available for individual sale.
+ SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

KEYWORDS
biological function
scanning electron microscope
sense
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission
Back to Top