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Diakova AV, Polilov AA. Sensation of the tiniest kind: the antennal sensilla of the smallest free-living insect Scydosella musawasensis (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae). PeerJ 2020; 8:e10401. [PMID: 33282562 PMCID: PMC7690297 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Miniaturization is a major evolutionary trend prominent in insects, which has resulted in the existence of insects comparable in size to some unicellular protists. The adaptation of the complex antennal multisensory systems to extreme miniaturization is a fascinating problem, which remains almost unexplored. We studied the antennal sensilla of Scydosella musawasensis Hall, 1999 (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae), the smallest free-living insect, using scanning electron microscopy. The antenna of S. musawasensis bears 131 sensilla; no intraspecific variation in the number or position of the sensilla has been revealed. Nine different morphological types of sensilla are described according to their external morphological features and distribution: four types of sensilla trichodea, one type of sensilla chaetica, two types of sensilla styloconica, and two types of sensilla basiconica. Morphometric analysis of the sensilla of S. musawasensis, based on measurements of the lengths and diameters of sensilla and their location and number, showed the absence of significant differences between females and males. Comparative allometric analysis of S. musawasensis and larger Coleoptera showed that the number of sensilla and the size of sensilla chaetica decrease with decreasing body size. However, the number of the types of sensilla and the length and diameter of the multiporous sensilla basiconica revealed no correlation with the body size. Comparison of the acquired data with the results of our earlier study of the antennal sensilla of some of the smallest parasitic wasps is used to put forward hypotheses on the common principles of miniaturization of the antennal sensory systems of insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V. Diakova
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey A. Polilov
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Pezzi M, Leis M, Chicca M, Falabella P, Salvia R, Scala A, Whitmore D. Morphology of the Antenna of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae): An Ultrastructural Investigation. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:925-933. [PMID: 28399222 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjx055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is a relevant species in waste and pest management, but is also of forensic and medical importance. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation of the antennae of both sexes of H. illucens is presented here for the first time. The antenna is composed of three regions: the scape, the pedicel, and the flagellum. The first two regions are single segments, whereas the third region, the longest one, is composed of eight flagellomeres. The scape and pedicel have microtrichia, chaetic sensilla, and rounded perforations. The flagellum is covered by different microtrichia, the morphology of which is described in detail. Two types of sensory pit are found on flagellomeres 1 to 6. An oval depression with trichoid sensilla extends from flagellomeres 4 to 6. On both sides of flagellomere 8 is a lanceolate depression covered by hair-like microtrichia. Morphometric and morphological analyses revealed some sex-related differences. The results of the SEM investigations are compared with those obtained on other species of the family Stratiomyidae and other brachyceran Diptera. The possible role of sensilla in sensory perception is also discussed in comparison with nondipteran species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Pezzi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
- Laboratory TekneHub, Technopole of University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 13, Ferrara, 44122, Italy
| | - M Leis
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
- Laboratory TekneHub, Technopole of University of Ferrara, Via Saragat 13, Ferrara, 44122, Italy
| | - M Chicca
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - P Falabella
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza, 85100, Italy
| | - R Salvia
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza, 85100, Italy
| | - A Scala
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, Potenza, 85100, Italy
| | - D Whitmore
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd., London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
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