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Structure of Antennal Sensilla in Scorpionflies (Mecoptera)

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Abstract

A comparative morphological study of the structure and localization of antennal sensilla in scorpionflies (Mecoptera) was carried out. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of antennal sensilla in four species from the families Panorpidae, Bittacidae, Nannochoristidae, and Boreidae. According to our new findings and the literature data, seven types of sensilla are present on the antennae of Mecoptera: long trichoid, short trichoid, chaetoid, campaniform, basiconic, coeloconic sensilla, and Böhm’s bristles. The antennal sensory apparatus in the studied species is represented mostly by long trichoid and basiconic sensilla. Specialization is manifested only by a few coeloconic sensilla, which show specific distribution on the segment surface. The basiconic sensilla are more common at the anterior segment margins, and they form clusters in one species of Boreidae. Comparison with the related orders shows reduced diversity of sensilla in scorpionflies.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to E.D. Lukashevich (Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow) for the provided material of Nannochorista andina from Chile, and to colleagues from the Research Park of St. Petersburg State University for assistance with using the equipment within the framework of projects 109-16530 and 109-24431 at the Center for Molecular and Cell Technologies.

Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project 22-24-00259).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, St. Petersburg State University, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia

    S. I. Melnitsky, M. Yu. Valuyskiy, K. T. Abu Diiak & V. D. Ivanov

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Statement on the welfare of animals. All the applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All the procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

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Melnitsky, S.I., Valuyskiy, M.Y., Diiak, K.T.A. et al. Structure of Antennal Sensilla in Scorpionflies (Mecoptera). Entmol. Rev. 102, 971–981 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873822070065

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