In parasitic wasps, various kinds of antennal plates have been interpreted as olfactory organs due to the presence of numerous pores. However, on the basis of ultrastructural investigations, some of these multiporous plates were revealed as being release sites of exocrine glands while others were postulated to have a gustatory function. Such sensilla have been found only on female antennae in the most important egg parasitoid families, i.e. Trichogrammatidae, Mymaridae, Scelionidae, Platygastridae, Eulophidae. These sensory structures are usually located either on several antennomeres (in ventral position) or only on the tip of the apical antennomere. The main morphological features are: a cuticular apparatus consisting of a basiconic shaft with an apical multiporous area; cellular components made up of a number of sensory neurons ranging from 6 up to 400. In some cases (Scelionidae) these multiporous sensilla have tubular accessory glands that release their secretion through the sensillum socket. These morphological characters, combined with behavioral observations, strongly suggest a gustatory function, although electrophysiological studies are still needed to confirm this hypothesis. A new terminology for antennal multiporous plates is discussed in relation to their different functions.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Scelionidae Trissolcus basalis (parasitic wasp)
Species 2: Hymenoptera Scelionidae Telenomus busseolae (parasitic wasp)
Species 3: Hymenoptera Platygastridae Amitus spiniferus (parasitic wasp)
Keywords: functional anatomy, ultrastructure
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