Ultrastructure of antennal sensilla of Copidosomopsis nacoleiae (Eady) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of Diaphania angustalis (Snellen) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

Abstract

The antennal sensilla of Copidosomopsis nacoleiae (Eady) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Encyrtidae) were observed under scanning and transmission electron microscopy in this study. The antennae of C. nacoleiae are geniculate, and the flagellum is composed of five subsegments in males and six in females. Six types of sensilla were observed, including sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconic capitate pegs, sensilla placodea, sensilla basiconica, and Böhm's bristles. Sensilla trichodea were evenly distributed throughout the antennae. Sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconic capitate pegs and sensilla placodea were found on the flagellomeres. Sensilla basiconica were only found on the club, and Böhm's bristles were found on the radicle and the pedicel. Sensilla trichodea, sensilla placodea, sensilla chaetica, and sensilla basiconic capitate pegs were found to be the most common sensilla of the parasitoids in the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The external and internal characteristics, types, number, distribution, and dimensions of these sensilla are described, and their possible functions are discussed in accordance with host-detection behavior. Future studies on the host location mechanisms of C. nacoleiae will be based upon these observations.