Antennal sensilla in ground beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae)
¹Institute of Plant Protection, Estonian Agricultural University, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51014, Tartu, Estonia; e-mail: angela@eau.ee
²Institute of Zoology and Botany, Estonian Agricultural University, Riia 181, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
³Veterinary and Agricultural University, Bülowsvej 13, DK 1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
⁴Danish Forest and Landscape Research Institute, Hoersholm Kongevej 11, DK 2970, Hoersholm, Denmark
⁵Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Riia 142, 51014 Tartu, Estonia
Abstract:
The antennal sensilla of male and female ground beetle species Bembidion lampros Hbst., Bembidion properans Steph. and Platynus dorsalis Pont. (Coleoptera, Carabidae) were investigated by using a scanning electron microscope. The filiform antennae of ground beetles consist of the scape, pedicel and 9 flagellomeres. Thirteen different sensillar types were distiguished. These were: four types of sensilla chaetica, two types of sensilla trichodea, six types of sensilla basiconica, pit-organs sensilla coeloconica, and small domes sensilla campaniformia. Sensilla chaetica 4 occur only on the antennae of P. dorsalis, and sensilla trichodea 1 only on the antennae ofBembidion species. No sexual differences in the types of sensilla were found on the antennae of these three species. The possible functions are discussed and three types of sensilla were considered as olfactory, sensilla trichodea 2 and sensilla basiconica 1 and 2. Olfactory sensilla trichodea 2 and sensilla basiconia 1 form clear dorsal and ventral sensillar fields on the flagellomeres, which seems to be common in ground beetles.
Key words:
antenna, Bembidion lampros Hbst., Bembidion properans Steph., Carabidae, Coleoptera, ground beetles, morphology, number, Platynus dorsalis Pont., sensilla, typology