Antennal sensory structures in Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) and their phylogenetic implications

Abstract

Antennae of representatives of most genera and subgenera of Nepticulidae have been examined in detail with SEM. Flagellar segments are highly uniform and possess each 1–3 s. trichodea, 1–3 long s. chaetica type I, 12 short s. chaetica type II and 0–2 s. coeloconica of a simpified type without “picket fence”. The dominating structure is a pair of s. vesiculoclada, a unique sensillum type, believed to be a synapomorphy for the Nepticulidae. A pair is present on alt flagellomeres in male antennae but not on all flagellomeres of females in two subgenera of Ectoedemia. Principally each s. vesiculocladum is five‐branched, with the branches joined tightly to the flagellar cuticle, but reduction of the branches occurs in several genera, in particular in Ectoedemia. This sensillum can be classified as a single‐walled wp sensillum, and thus a chemoreceptor. The s. vesiculocladum is considered to be a homologue of the ascoid sensilla in the Opostegidae. The presence of these special setae is considered as an additional synapomorphy for both families. A review of previous Literature on lepidopteran sensilla is presented and the present data are compared and discussed. In the Nepticulidae the s. vesiculocladum is assumed to be the major pheromone detector in contrast to the s. trichodea of most other Lepidoptera.

Morphology and distribution of antennal sensilla of two tortricid moths,Cydia pomonellaandC. succedana(Lepidoptera)

“…These subtype sensilla observed in the two species of this study were similar to those found in C. cactorum (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), T. batesi (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and C. medinalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) (Gómez and Carrasco, ; Pophof et al, ; Sun et al, ). Sensilla coeloconica subtype II without circular fence has been described in a few moths, which are always present in small numbers (Faucheux, ; Van Nieukerken and Dop, ; Wall, ). In antenna of Agathiphaga vitiensis (Lepidoptera: Agathiphagidae) and A. queenslandensis (Lepidoptera: Agathiphagidae), three morphological types of s. coeloconica were described (Faucheux, 1999).…”

Revised classification and catalogue of global Nepticulidae and Opostegidae (Lepidoptera, Nepticuloidea)

“…Unfortunately, the department was short lived being closed down after budget cuts in 1985, cuts that were particularly detrimental to taxonomy. EvN finished his degree in 1986 after the group had been disbanded (van Nieukerken 1983b; 1985b; 1986b; van Nieukerken and Dop 1987). His thesis built upon Scoble’s results, but mainly based on the Holarctic fauna.…”

“…Together with his MSc student, Henk Dop, he also extensively studied antennal ultrastructure. Van Nieukerken and Dop discovered a novel sensillum, which they named sensillum vesiculocladum (van Nieukerken and Dop 1987). The work led to a first checklist of the Western Palearctic species (van Nieukerken 1986a).…”

10. Sensilla and Proprioceptors

“…In addition, the unique sensillum vesiculocladum has been identified. This type is lacking in the females of some species (Nieukerken & Dop 1987). The male antenna possesses more flagellomeres than the females.…”

“…Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 7/21/15 6:02 PM Sensillum vesiculocladum is a specialized sensillar type present in Nepticulidae (Nieukerken & Dop 1987). The indivual sensilla are usually covering large areas of the antennal surface, but do not extend far from the antennal surface.…”