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Ultrastructure of antennal sensory organs of horse nasal-myiasis fly, Rhinoestrus purpureus (Diptera: Oestridae)

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Abstract

Rhinoestrus purpureus (Brauer, 1858) (Diptera: Oestridae) is an economically important parasite that can cause severe nasal myiasis in equids or even attacking humans. The antennae of R. purpureus were examined using stereoscopic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The general morphology was provided detailedly, together with distribution, type, size, and ultrastructure of antennal sensilla. All the three antennal segments, antennal scape, pedicel, and funiculus, are interspersed by microtrichiae. Only mechanoreceptors are detected on antennal scape and pedicel. On antennal funiculus, three types of sensilla were observed, including basiconic sensilla, coeloconic sensilla and clavate sensilla. Two features are characterized of this host-specific bot fly: (1) numerous sensory pits with branched basiconic sensilla on antennal funiculus and (2) the absence of trichoid sensilla. The function of these distinctive traits are discussed in association with the life history. We suggest that more sensory pits with branched sensilla could increase the sensitivity of olfactory system for host orientation, while the capability of pheromone identification might be reduced due to the absence of trichoid sensilla. Besides, we support both thermo- and chemo-functions of coeloconic sensilla.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Beijing Higher Education Young Elite Teacher Project (no. YETP0771), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (no. NCET-12-0783).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Key Laboratory of Non-Invasive Research Technology for Endangered Species, School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China

      X. H. Liu, X. Y. Li, K. Li & D. Zhang

    2. Department of Zoology, School of Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, 35 Qinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China

      D. Zhang

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    1. X. H. Liu
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    Correspondence to D. Zhang.

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    X. H. Liu and X. Y. Li contributed equally to this work.

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    Liu, X.H., Li, X.Y., Li, K. et al. Ultrastructure of antennal sensory organs of horse nasal-myiasis fly, Rhinoestrus purpureus (Diptera: Oestridae). Parasitol Res 114, 2527–2533 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-015-4453-8

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