Zoomorphology

, Volume 104, Issue 3, pp 171–179 | Cite as

Reduction of sensory cells in antennal sensilla correlated with changes in feeding behavior in the beetle Loricera pilicornis (Insecta, Coleoptera, Carabidae)

  • H. Altner
  • Ulrike Hintzpeter
Article
Received:

Summary

The structure of the setae on the proximal antennal segments of the beetle Loricera pilicornis is described using electron microscopical methods. These setae are part of a prey-capturing apparatus and are inserted within flexible sockets. They have no central lumen.

Four or five sensory cells are connected to each seta. One cell is characterized as a mechanoreceptor due to the presence of a tubular body and the location of its dendritic outer segment. The other sensory cells are of two types. One type shows the usual features of sensillar receptors except that the dendritic outer segments end beneath the seta within the cuticular sheath. In the other type all parts of the cell, including the perikaryon, appear undersized, and no axon was found. In a single case a sixth cell was found which lacks any process, although, due to its location, it belongs to the sensory cell group.

The enveloping cells also deviate from the usual pattern. Trichogen and tormogen cells have no membrane folds nor microvilli. From the membrane of the thecogen cell, where it borders on the inner receptor lymph cavity, invaginations have developed which form voluminous membrane whorls. Portasomes are found on these membranes.

On the basis of the structural features we hypothesize that the setae represent sensilla undergoing stepwise reduction, losing primordial gustatory units whilst the prey-capturing mechanism is optimized.

Keywords

Usual Pattern Sensory Cell Microscopical Method Usual Feature Antennal Segment 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Altner H, Bauer T (1982) Ultrastructure of a specialized, thrust-sensitive, insect mechanoreceptor: Stimulus-transmitting structures and sensory apparatus in the rostral horns of Notiophilus biguttatus. Cell Tissue Res 226:337–354Google Scholar
  2. Altner H, Prillinger L (1980) Ultrastructure of invertebrate chemo-, thermo- and hygroreceptors and its functional significance. Int Rev Cytol 67:69–139Google Scholar
  3. Altner H, Stetter H (1982) The sensory system of the maxillary palps in the cockroach Periplaneta americana. Verh Dtsch Zool Ges 75:247Google Scholar
  4. Altner H, Thies G (1981) Sensillum-bound mechanoreceptors as internal proprioceptors in the distal antennal segments of Colembola. Verh Dtsch Zool Ges 74:211Google Scholar
  5. Altner H, Routil Ch, Loftus R (1981) The structure of bimodal chemo-, thermo-, and hygroreceptive sensilla on the antenna of Locusta migratoria. Cell Tissue Res 215:289–308Google Scholar
  6. Altner H, Schaller-Selzer L, Stetter H, Wohlrab I (1983) Poreless sensilla with inflexible sockets. A comparative study of a fundamental type of insect sensilla probably comprising thermo- and hygroreceptors. Cell Tissue Res 234:279–307Google Scholar
  7. Altner H, Tichy H, Altner I (1978) Lamellated outer dendritic segments of a sensory cell within a poreless thermo- and hygroreceptive sensillum of the insect Carausius morosus. Cell Tissue Res 191:287–304Google Scholar
  8. Bauer T (1982) Predation by a carabid beetle specialized for catching Collembola. Pedobiologia 24:169–179Google Scholar
  9. Gaffal KP (1979) An ultrastructural study of the tips of four classical bimodal sensilla with one mechanosensitive and several chemosensitive receptor cells. Zoomorphologie 92:273–291Google Scholar
  10. Gaffal KP Tichy H, Theiss J, Seelinger G (1975) Structural polarities in mechanosensitive sensilla and their influence on stimulus transmission (Arthropoda). Zoomorphologie 82:79–103Google Scholar
  11. Glauert AM (1974) Fixation, dehydration and embedding of biological specimens. In: Glauert AM (ed), Practical methods in electron microscopy. North-Holland/American Elsevier, Amsterdam Oxford New York, Vol 3:1–207Google Scholar
  12. Gnatzy W, Romer F (1980) Morphogenesis of mechanoreceptor and epidermal cells of crickets during the last instar, and its relation to molting-hormone level. Cell Tissue Res 213:369–391Google Scholar
  13. Gnatzy W, Tautz J (1980) Ultrastructure and mechanical properties of an insect mechanoreceptor: Stimulus-transmitting structures and sensory apparatus of the cercal filiform hairs of Gryllus. Cell Tissue Res 213:441–463Google Scholar
  14. Hansen K (1978) Insect chemoreception. In: Hazelbauer GL (ed), Taxis and behavior. Receptors and recognition. Chapman and Hall, London, Ser B, Vol 5:233–292Google Scholar
  15. Hansen K, Hansen-Delkeskamp E (1983) The development of taste and tactile hairs in the pharate fly Protophormia terraenovae (Diptera, Calliphoridae) and in the embryonal cricket Acheta domestica (Orthopteroidea, Ensifera). Zoomorphology 102:241–259Google Scholar
  16. Hansen K, Heumann H-G (1971) Die Feinstruktur der tarsalen Schmeckhaare der Fliege Phormia terraenovae Rob-Desv. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat 117:419–442Google Scholar
  17. Harvey WR (1980) Water and ions in the gut. In: Locke M, Smith DS (eds), Insect biology in the future. Academic Press, New York London, pp 105–124Google Scholar
  18. Jacquemin G, Bareth C (1981) Ultrastructure des soies glandulaires et sensorielles du premier sternite abdominal des mâles de Campodea chardardi Condé (Insecta: Diplura): Modifications liées à la mue. Int J Insect Morphol & Embryol 10:463–481Google Scholar
  19. Keil T (1978) Die Makrochaeten auf dem Thorax von Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Calliphoridae, Diptera). Zoomorphologie 90:151–180Google Scholar
  20. Kramer JJ de, Molen GL van der (1980) Taste hair development. In: Starre H van der (ed), Olfaction and Taste VII, IRL Press, London Washington, p 192Google Scholar
  21. Mayr E (1959) The emergence of evolutionary novelties: In: Tax S (ed), The evolution of life. University of Chicago Press, ChicagoGoogle Scholar
  22. McIver SB (1975) Structure of cuticular mechanoreceptors of arthropods. Ann Rev Entomol 20:381–397Google Scholar
  23. Menco B, Wolk FM van der (1982) Freeze-fracture characteristics of insect gustatory and olfactory sensilla. I: A comparison with vertebrate olfactory receptor cells with special reference to ciliary components. Cell Tissue Res 223:1–27Google Scholar
  24. Moulins M (1968) Les sensilles de l'organe hypopharyngien de Blabera craniifer Burm (Insecta, Dictyoptera). J Ultrastruct Res 21:474–513Google Scholar
  25. Smola U (1970a) Untersuchungen zur Topographie, Mechanik und Strömungsmechanik der Sinneshaare auf dem Kopf der Wanderheuschrecke Locusta migratoria. Z vergl Physiol 67:381–402Google Scholar
  26. Smola U (1970b) Rezeptor- und Aktionspotentiale der Sinneshaare auf dem Kopf der Wanderheuschrecke Locusta migratoria. Z vergl. Physiol 70:335–348Google Scholar
  27. Thurm U, Küppers J (1980) Epithelial physiology of insect sensilla. In: Locke M, Smith DS (eds), Insect biology in the future. Academic Press, New York London, pp 735–763Google Scholar
  28. Tichy H (1979) Hygro- and thermoreceptive triad in antennal sensillum in the stick insect, Carausius morosus. J Comp Physiol 132:149–152Google Scholar
  29. Wilkens H, Peters N, Schemmel C (1979) Gesetzmäßigkeiten der regressiven Evolution. Verh Dtsch Zool Ges 72:123–140Google Scholar
  30. Wolk FM van der (1978) The typology and topography of the tarsal chemoreceptors of the blow flies Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy and Phormia terraenovae Robineau-Desvoidy and the housefly Musca domestica L. J Morphol 157:201–210Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1984

Authors and Affiliations

  • H. Altner
    • 1
  • Ulrike Hintzpeter
    • 1
  1. 1.Institut für ZoologieUniversität RegensburgRegensburgFederal Republic of Germany

Personalised recommendations