Abstract
Invasive mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae: Scapteriscus spp.) are destructive subterranean pests that cause significant economic losses for the turfgrass, sod and pasture industries. Their behavior suggests that they may sense insecticides applied to the soil, so we sought to examine and describe the antennal and palpal structures of S. vicinis Scudder, S. borellii Giglio-Tos, S. abbreviatus Scudder, and the native mole cricket, Neocurtilla hexadactyla Perty, by scanning and transmission electron micrography. The most abundant sensilla were antennal sensilla chaetica with mechanoreceptory and contact chemoreceptory functions. Each segment had olfactory sensilla basioconica and sensilla trichodea, sensilla coeloconica (with olfactory and thermo-hydroreceptory functions), and sensilla campaniformia (proprioreceptor). Sensilla on the mole cricket palps were non-pore or tip-pore, which suggests mechanoreceptory and contact chemoreceptory functions. Similar to other hemimetaboulous insects, mole cricket nymphs and adults have the same sensilla types. However, the number and size of antennomeres increased with each molt, allowing the antennae to accommodate more sensory sensilla as insects matured.
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