Olfaction in the Colorado potato beetle: ultrastructure of antennal sensilla in Leptinotarsa sp.
Sensillae on the antennae of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata are described using scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy and compared with SEM observations of antennal sensilla in L. haldemani and L. texana. In all the three species, 13 distinct sensillar types were identified with a higher density of sensilla in the more polyphagous species, L. decemlineata than in the moderately host specific L. haldemani and the highly host specific L. texana. Cuticular specializations and the predominance of olfactory sensilla are discussed in relation to host specificity in the three species.
Sen
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Department of Entomology, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2E3, Alta., Canada. alok_sen@hotmail.com
Mitchell
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BK
D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012903:Smell