Fractographic Studies of the Honey Bee Sensilla Coeloconica and Sensilla Amupullacea Campaniformia by SEM

Abstract

The antennal sensory organs of honey bees have been studied by many researchers in the past. In most instances their work was confined to readily identifiable cuticular sensory structures such as the pore plate organ (Figs. 1, 3) and several types of hair-like sensilla (Fig. 1). The total number of receptors on a honey bee antennae is roughly 13,000 of which about 8,200 belong to the hair-like receptors or s. trichodea group (Fig. 1). The pore plate organs or s. placodea comprise the next largest group with 3,000 receptors. The pit peg sense organs or s. ampullacea (Figs. 3, 5), and s. coeloconica (Figs. 1, 2) are present in considerably smaller number (approximately 300) and have received little attention since they cannot be readily identified on the basis of their surface structure. Thus, little is known about the fine structure of these pit peg organs. In this study, pit peg organs of plastic embedded antennae were examined by scanning electron microscopy.