Scanning Electron Microscopy of Antennae of Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The morphology of antennae of Aphidoletes aphidimyza was observed with a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that both male and female were fourteen segmented, the male was approximately 2000μ m and the female was 1050 μm. Six types of sensillae on the antenna were observed, viz. chaetica (Ch), trichoidea (Tr), basiconica (Ba), cavity (Ca), styloid (St) and circumfila (Ci) on the antennae of A. aphidimyza. Sensillae Ch had a long external-process, with a base surrounded by membranous sockets and a length of about 67.5 μm. Sensillae Tr were distally curved and inserted into a depression, 61.0 μm long. Sensillae Ba were peg-like and 4.7 μm long on the antennae. Sensillae Ca were pit-like in appearance and the diameter of the pit was 1.2 μm. Sensilla St was found on the second sub-segment flagellum of the male antennae. The length of the sensilla was about 21 μm and the diameter was 1.5 μm. The circumfila, which are a unique type of sensilla found only on cecidomyiid antennae, formed loops around each of the antennal sub-segments, and were attached to the surface by a series of stalks. Sensilla St was only present on male antenna. The number of Ba and Tr was almost the same in both sexes. There were more Sensilla Ca on the male antenna than on the female, while there was more Ch on the female.