Summary
The structure of a simple chordotonal organ, the presumed homologue of the noctuoid moth tympanal organ, is described in the atympanate moth, Actias luna. The organ consists of a proximal scolopidial region and a distal strand, which attaches peripherally to the membranous cuticle ventral to the hindwing alula. The strand is composed of elongate, microtubule-rich cells encased in an extracellular connective tissue sheath. The scolopidial region houses three mononematic, monodynal scolopidia, each comprised of a sensory cell, scolopale cell, and attachment cell. The dendritic apex is octagonally shaped in transverse section, its inner membrane lined by a laminated structure reminiscent of the noctuoid tympanal organ ‘collar’. A 9+0-type cilium emerges from the dendritic apex, passes through both the scolopale lumen and cap, and terminates in an extracellular space distal to the latter. Proximal extensions of the attachment cell and distal prolongations of the scolopale cell surrounding the cap are joined by an elaborate desmosome, with which is associated an extensive electron-dense fibrillar plaque. Within the scolopale cell, this plaque constitutes the scolopale ‘rod’ material. The data are discussed in terms of both the organ's potential function, and its significance as the evolutionary proto-type of the noctuoid moth ear.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altner H (1988) The scolopalial organs in the first antennal segment in Allacma fusca (Collembola, Sminthuridae). Zoomorphology 108:173–181
Ashhurst DE (1982) The structure and development of insect connective tissues. In: King RC, Akai H (eds) Insect ultrastructure, vol 1, Plenum, New York London
Ball EE (1981) Structure of the auditory system of the weta Hemideina crassidens (Blanchard 1851) (Orthoptera, Ensifera, Gryllacridoidea, Stenopelmatidae). 2. Ultrastructure of the auditory sensilla. Cell Tissue Res 217:345–359
Bartholomew GA, Casey TM (1978) Oxygen consumption of moths during rest, pre-flight warm-up, and flight in relation to body size and wing morphology. J Exp Biol 76:11–25
Blöchl R, Selzer R (1988) Embryogenesis of the connective chordotonal organ in the pedicel of the American cockroach: cell lineage and morphological differentiation. Cell Tissue Res 252:669–678
Bloom JW, Zacharuk RY, Holodniuk AE (1981) Ultrastructure of a terminal chordotonal organ sensillum in larval antennae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. Can J Zool 59:515–524
Boyan GS, Fullard JH (1986) Interneurones responding to sound in the tobacco budworm moth Heliothis virescens (Noctuidae): morphological and physiological characteristics. J Comp Physiol A 158:391–404
Bromley AK, Dunn JA, Anderson M (1980) Ultrastructure of the antennal sensilla of aphids. II. Trichoid, chordotonal, and campaniform sensilla. Cell Tissue Res 205:493–511
Corbière-Tichané G (1971) Ultrastructure des organes chordotonaux des piéces céphaliques chez la larve du Speophyes lucidulus Delar. (Coléoptère Cavernicole de la sous-famille des Bathysciinae). Z Zellforsch 117:275–302
Corbière-Tichané G (1975) L'organe de Johnston chez l'imago de Speophys cavernicole de la sous-famille des Bathysciinae) Ultrastructure. J Microsc Biol Cell 22:55–68
Coro F, Pérez J (1987) Estructura del órgano timpánico de Empyreuma pugione (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Cienc Biol 17:31–41
Debauche H (1935) Recherches sur les organes sensoriels antennaires de Hydropsyche longipennis. La Cellule 44:43–83
Dethier VG (1963) The physiology of insect senses. Methuen, London
Doolan JM, Young D (1981) The organization of the auditory organ of the bladder cicada, Cystosoma saundersii. Philos Trans R Soc Lond (Biol) 291:525–540
Dorsett DA (1962) Preparation for flight by hawk-moths. J Exp Biol 39:579–588
Elsner N, Popov AV (1978) Neuroethology of acoustic communication. Adv Insect Physiol 13:229–355
Faucheux MJ (1985) Structure of the tarso-pretarsal chordotonal organ in the imago of Tineola bisselliella Humm. (Lepidoptera: Tineidae). Int J Insect Morph Embryol 14:147–154
Friedman MH (1972) A light and electron microscopic study of sensory organs and associated structures in the foreleg tibia of the cricket, Gryllus assimilis. J Morphol 138:263–328
Fullard JH (1988) The tuning of moth ears. Experientia 44:423–428
Fuller H, Ernst A (1973) Die Ultrastruktur der femoralen Chordotonalorgane von Carausius morosus. Br Zool J (Anat) 91:547–601
Ghiradella H (1971) Fine structure of the noctuid moth ear. I. The transducer area and connections to the tympanic membrane in Feltia subgothica Hawthorn. J Morphol 134:21–45
Glauert AM (1975) Fixation, dehydration and embedding of biological specimens. Elsevier, New York
Graber V (1882) Die chordotonalen Sinnesorgane und das Gehör der Insekten. Arch Mikrosk Anat Entw Mech 20:506–640
Gray EG (1960) The fine structure of the insect ear. Philos Trans R Soc Lond (Biol) 243:75–94
Hallberg E (1981) Johnston's organ in Neodiprion sertifer (Insecta: Hymenoptera) J Morphol 167:305–312
Haskell PT (1961) Insect sounds Witherby, London
Howse PE (1968) The fine structure and functional organization of chordotonal organs. Symp Zool Soc (Lond) 23:167–198
Hustert R (1974) Morphologie und Atmungsbewegungen des 5. Abdominalsegmentes von Locusta migratoria migratorioides. Zool Jb Physiol Bd 78:157–174
Kennel J von, Eggers F (1933) Die abdominalen Tympanalorgane der Lepidopteren. Zool Jahrb Abt Anat 57:1–104
Kühne R (1982) Neurophysiology of the vibration sense in locusts and bushcrickets: response characteristics of single receptor units. J Insect Physiol 28:155–163
Lane NJ, Flores V (1990) The cytoskeketal components in the maintenance of intercellular junctions in an insect. Cell Tissue Res 262:373–385
Lane NJ, Skaer H leB (1980) Intercellular junctions in insect tissues. Adv Insect Physiol 15:35–213
Locke M, Huie P (1975) Staining of the elastic fibers in insect connective tissue after tannic acid/glutaraldehyde fixation. Tissue Cell 7:211–216
Madsen BM, Miller LA (1987) Auditory input to motor neurons of the dorsal longitudinal flight muscles in a noctuid moth (Barathra brassicae L.). J Comp Physiol A 160:23–31
Matsuda R (1976) Morphology and evolution of the insect abdomen. Pergamon, New York
Meier T, Reichert H (1990) Embryonic development and evolutionary origin of the orthopteran auditory organs. J Neurobiol 21:592–610
Michel K (1977) Feinstrukturelle Besonderheiten im mesothorakalen Tympanalorgan der Ruderwanze Callicorixa praeusta (Heteroptera: Corixidae). Entomol Germ 3:316–323
Miller LA (1983) How insects detect and avoid bats. In: Huber F, Markl H (eds) Neuroethology and behavioral physiology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 250–266
Miller TA (1979) Insect neurophysiological techniques. Springer, New York Heidlerberg Berlin pp 241–242
Moran DT, Rowley JC III (1975) The fine structure of the cockroach subgenual organ. Tissue Cell 7:91–106
Moran DT, Rowley JC III, Varela FG (1975) Ultrastructure of the grasshopper proximal femoral chordotonal organ. Cell Tissue Res 161:445–457
Moran DT, Varela FJ, Rowley JC III (1977) Evidence for active role of cilia in sensory transduction. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74:793–797
Moulins M (1976) Ultrastructure of chordotonal organs. In: Mill PJ (ed) Structure and function of proprioceptors in the invertebrates. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 387–426
Nüesch H (1953) The morphology of the thorax of Telea polyphemus (Lepidoptera). I. Skeleton and muscles. J Morphol 93:589–608
Nüesch H (1957) Die Morphologie des Thorax von Telea polyphemus Cr. (Lepid.). II. Nervensystem. Zool Jahrb Abt Anat 75:615–642
Pantin CFA (1946) Notes on microscopical techniques for zoologists. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Pappas LG, Larsen JR (1976) Labellar chordotonal organs of the mosquito, Culiseta inornata (Williston) (Diptera: Culicidae). Int J Insect Morphol Embryol 5:145–150
Paul DH (1974) Responses to acoustic stimulation of thoracic interneurones in noctuid moths. J Insect Physiol 20:2205–2218
Pillsbury N (1980) Electron microscopy. In: Sheehan DC, Hrapchak BP (eds) Theory and practice of histotechnology. Mosby, St. Louis Toronto London, pp 327–346
Pumphrey RJ (1940) Hearing in insects. Biol Rev 15:107–132
Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at a high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212
Roeder KD (1966) Acoustic sensitivity of the noctuid tympanic organ and its range for the cries of bats. J Insect Physiol 12:843–859
Roeder KD (1967) Nerve cells and insect behavior. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Schmidt K (1969) Der Feinbau der stiftführenden Sinnesorgane im Pedicellus der Florfliege Chrysopa Leach (Chrysopidae, Planipennia). Z Zellforsch 99:357–388
Slifer EH, Sekhon SS (1975) The femoral chordotonal organs of a grasshopper, Orthoptera, Acrididae. J Neurocytol 4:419–438
Spangler HG (1988) Moth hearing, defense, and communication. Annu Rev Entomol 33:59–81
Theophilidis G (1986) The femoral chordotonal organs of Decticus albifrons (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). I. Structure Comp Biochem Physiol 84:529–536
Toh Y (1981) Fine structure of sense organs on the antennal pedicel and scape of the male cockroach, Periplaneta americana. J Ultrastruct Res 77:119–132
Toh Y, Yokohari F (1985) Structure of the antennal chordotonal sensilla of the American cockroach. J Ultrastruct Res 90:124–134
Uga S, Kuwabara M (1965) On the fine structure of the chordotonal sensillum in antenna of Drosophila melanogaster. J Electronmicrosc 14:173–181
Vande Berg JS (1971) Fine structural studies of Johnston's organ in the tobacco hornworm moth, Manduca sexta (Johannson). J Morphol 133:439–456
Wolfrum U (1990) Actin filaments: the main components of the scolopale in insect sensilla. Cell Tissue Res 261:85–96
Yack JE, Fullard JH (1990) The mechanoreceptive origin of insect tympanal organs: a comparative study of similar nerves in tampanate and atympanate moths J Comp Neurol 300:523–534
Yager DD, Hoy RR (1987) The midline metathoracic ear of the praying mantis, Mantis religiosa. Cell Tissue Res 250:531–541
Young D (1970) The structure and function of a connective chordotonal organ in the cockroach leg. Philos Trans Roy Soc (Biol) 256:401–428
Young D (1973) Fine structure of the sensory cilium of an insect auditory receptor. J Neurocytol 2:47–58
Young D, Ball E (1974a) Structure and development of the auditory system in the prothoracic leg of the cricket Teleogryllus commodus (Walker). I. Adult structure. Z Zellforsch 147:293–312
Young D, Ball E (1974b) Structure and development of the tracheal organ in the mesothoracic leg of the cricket Teleogryllus commodus (Walker). Z Zellforsch 147:325–334
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yack, J.E., Roots, B.I. The metathoracic wing-hinge chordotonal organ of an atympanate moth, Actias luna (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae): a light- and electron-microscopic study. Cell Tissue Res 267, 455–471 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319368
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00319368