External proprioceptors of locust locomotor organs and their change in the course of early larval ontogenesis

Abstract

This work studies topography and structure of such important insect external proprioceptors as campaniform sensillae (CS). These mechanoreceptors are essential components of insect posture and locomotion regulation and participate in control of various forms of insect motor behavior (walking, jump, flight). There are traced their quantitative changes as well as differences in distribution of groups of these leg receptors at consecutive stages (from the 1st to the 4th instar) of ontogenetic development of larva of the locust Locusta migratoria L. The presence of groups of CS in proximal parts of extremities has been noted as early as in the 1st instar larvae. The CS groups in the wing pads were revealed only in the 4th instar larvae. The presented data allow connecting changes in structure and distribution of these proprioceptors with differences in locomotion of imagoes and larvae. A possible effect of these insect larval proprioceptors on central generators of the locomotion rhythms is discussed.