Abstract
Insects possess antennae equipped with a large number of segments (flagellomeres) on which sensory organs (sensilla) are located. Hemimetabolous insects grow by molting until they reach adulthood. In these species, the sensory structures develop and mature during each stage of development; new flagellomeres are generated at each molt elongating the antennae, and new sensilla appear. The praying mantis (Tenodera aridifolia) is a hemimetabolous insect with 7 different instars before it reaches adulthood. Because their antennae are provided with an atypical sensillar distribution, we previously suggested that their antennae develop with a different mechanism to other hemimetaboulous insect species. In the present study, we measured the number, length and width of flagellomeres along the antennae in nymph and adult mantis Tenodera aridifolia. For this study, we developed a new and innovative methodology to reconstruct the antennal development based on the length of flagellomeres. We observed and confirmed that the antennae of mantises develop with the addition of new segments at two distinct sites. In addition, we constructed a complete database of the features of the flagellum for each stage of development. From our data, we found that sexual dimorphism appears from the 6 instar (larger number and wider flagellomeres in males) in accordance with the appearance of their genital apparatus. The antennal sexual dimorphism completes at adulthood with longer flagellomeres and the emergence of a huge number of grooved peg sensilla in males during the last molting, which suggests once again their function as sex-pheromone receptive sensilla.
Highlights
Animals evolved sensory structures that are adapted to their lifestyle
The praying mantis is a predator that relies more on their visual system [2,3,4]. Researchers focused on their vision [3,4] as it shows the characteristics of binocular vision in mammals, and left the investigation of olfactory systems to be investigated in other insect species
We investigated the antennal development in Tenodera aridifolia in the present study by measuring the features of the flagellum in nymphs and adults
Summary
Animals evolved sensory structures that are adapted to their lifestyle. In insects, olfaction plays a pivotal role in detecting food and/or seeking sexual partners [1]. The praying mantis is a predator that relies more on their visual system [2,3,4] Because of this reason, researchers focused on their vision [3,4] as it shows the characteristics of binocular vision in mammals, and left the investigation of olfactory systems to be investigated in other insect species. The praying mantis, as with other insect species, uses olfaction for feeding and courtship behaviors [5,6,7]. Their antennae present atypical features that might help to better understand the olfactory system [8]
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