Mouthparts and associated sensilla of adult Panorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera)

Abstract

Adult mouthparts and associated sensilla were investigated for five genera of Panorpidae in Mecoptera by scanning electron microscopy, including Panorpa liui Hua, 1997, Dicerapanorpa magna (Chou, 1981), Cerapanorpa dubia (Chou & Wang, 1981), Neopanorpa longiprocessa Hua & Chou, 1997 and Furcatopanorpa longihypovalva (Hua & Cai, 2009). The mouthparts are of the typical mandibulate type, consisting of a labrum-epipharynx, paired mandibles and maxillae, and unpaired labium and hypopharynx. The triangular labrum is longer in F. longihypovalva than in other species. The epipharynx is usually furnished with abundant microtrichia, except in N. longiprocessa. The blade-shaped mandibles terminate into two apical teeth. The hypopharynx bears numerous microtrichia on the posterior side, except for the glabrous hypopharynx in N. longiprocessa. The mouthparts have six types of sensilla: sensilla basiconica on the epipharynx, maxillary and labial palps; sensilla chaetica on the epipharynx and maxillary palps; sensilla palmata and trichodea on the epipharynx and maxillary palp; sensilla campaniformia and hair plates on the basal joints of palps. The number of sensilla basiconica I is four in P. liui and C. dubia, six in D. magna and eight in N. longiprocessa, respectively, but as two or four in F. longihypovalva. The characters of mouthparts and associated sensilla can be used for taxonomy and phylogenetic analyses of Panorpidae.