Antennal morphology and micro‐sensory architecture of the New Zealand magpie moth, Nyctemera annulata (Lepidoptera: Erebidae): diversity, distribution and dimorphism

Abstract

Insects rely on chemical information obtained from their surroundings when locating biologically important resources. Detection of these chemicals is mediated by the antennae, which are endowed with various sensory structures called sensilla. Sensilla type, distribution and density vary among species, between sexes and at different life stages, and may provide important information regarding the ability of individuals to detect and process such external stimuli. The aim of this study was to quantitatively investigate the sensory architecture of larval and adult antennae in the New Zealand magpie moth, Nyctemera annulata (Arctiinae). Using scanning electron microscopy the sensilla were identified and classified into 8 types: trichoid, basiconic, chaetic, auricillic, squamiform, styloconic, coeloconic and Böhm's bristles, with multiple subtypes. Larval antennae were found to possess morphology and sensory structures which are essentially ubiquitous across the Lepidoptera. Sexual dimorphism was apparent in the overall antennal morphology as well as in the distribution, density and morphology of particular types of sensilla in adult N. annulata, which likely represents a divergence in sensory functions based on the different resource cues responded to by males (sex pheromones) and females (host plant odours). This is a rare example of a study which quantifies variation in the numbers and dimensions of all antennal sensilla types for males and females to allow a thorough statistical assessment of sexual dimorphism in antennal sensory architecture.

A comparative morphometric study of sensory capacity in geometrid moths

“…Certainly, other antennal features are of significance (e.g. distribution and density of specific receptor types: see Mark, Parsons, & Holwell, , and references therein), but presumably this would not invalidate size as an index of capacity.…”

Insects as Food in Aotearoa New Zealand

“…Differences in the density and distribution of sensilla between sexes have been attributed to differences in importance of different sensory cues, e.g. female sex pheromones for males and host plant volatiles in females (Castrejón-Gómez et al, 1999;Hansson et al, 1995;Mark et al, 2018). Female produced sex pheromones appear to explain sexual dimorphism exhibited in Clitarchus hookeri (Phamatodea) with increased density of sensilla basiconica and sensilla trichodea, sensilla associated with olfaction, present in males (S. S. Myers et al, 2015).…”

“…This is particularly the case among scrambling species and higher investment in the size and sensitivity of male sense organs such as eyes, ears and antennae has been demonstrated for many species (reviewed in Herberstein et al, 2017). For example, most male moths show longer and more elaborate (pectinate) antennae than females (Symonds et al, 2012), and the number and density of olfactory antennal sensilla have been shown to be higher for males in a wide range of insect species including mantises, beetles, stick insects, flies and moths (Holwell et al, 2007;Jourdan et al, 1995;Mark et al, 2018; S. S. Myers et al, 2015;F. Zhang et al, 2021).…”

Comparative Evaluation on the Response of New Zealand Buildings to Natural Disasters

“…Due to the natural disasters in New Zealand, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, and landslides, earthquakes and tsunamis have the greatest and most frequent damage to people, property, and buildings. Therefore, this article mainly discusses the comparative study of New Zealand's building response to earthquakes and tsunamis as natural disasters [19][20]. Firstly, based on the relevant research and image descriptions of earthquakes in New Zealand mentioned above, the forms of damage caused to buildings during earthquakes are analyzed, and the conclusions are shown in Table 1 The structural design was unreasonable, and the construction of frame structures did not meet the design strength by cutting corners.…”