Summary
The antennal circulatory organs of Melolontha are described for the first time. They consist of small sac-like ampullae located near the base of each antenna and connected to a long non-muscular antennal blood vessel. Small branches of this vessel extend into each lamella of the antennal club and open out distally. The membranous wall of the ampulla provides no contractile structures. An outer adjacent compressor muscle is responsible for the pumping movements of the ampulla and antagonist to it is an obviously elastic connective tissue band. The position of this elastic band causes the uncontracted muscle to be pulled away from the ampulla. As a consequence blood can enter the dilated ampulla through a valvular ostium. The functional type of the antennal circulatory organs in Melolontha is compared to that found in other insects and their histologic structure is interpreted in relation to mechanical and hemodynamical aspects. Furthermore the possible function of the antennal hearts in connection with the spreading of its lamellate antennal club is discussed.
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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. M. Gersch's 70th birthday.
Supported by project 3,106 of the ‘Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung in Österreich’
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Pass, G. The anatomy and ultrastructure of the antennal circulatory organs in the cockchafer beetle Melolontha melolontha L. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Zoomorphology 96, 77–89 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310078
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00310078