Abstract
Blow fly, Triceratopyga calliphoroides Rohdendorf, is a common and synanthropic species of medical and forensic significance in eastern Asia. Field monitoring studies have indicated that olfaction system plays an important role in guiding the behavior of insect species. To further our understanding of fly olfaction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) are applied to examine the sensillar morphology of adults, with an emphasis on sensory pit and sacculus. Both microtrichiae and several mechanoreceptors are detected on antennal scape and pedicel. Except for these two structures, pedicellar buttons are also found in antennal pedicellar depression after the separation of antennal pedicel and funiculus. Eight types of antennal sensilla are observed on external surface of antennal funiculus (one type of trichoid sensilla, three types of basiconic sensilla, three types of coeloconic sensilla, and one type of clavate-like sensilla), while two types (one type of basiconic sensilla and one type of coeloconic-like sensilla) are detected at the inner surface of sensory pits or sacculus. As the first to investigate cuticular invaginations of blow flies via paraffin section, the internal structure of abundant sensory pits and an excessively complex sacculus on antennal funiculus are revealed. After comparison to other species previously studied, this phenomenon is proved to be the most unique feature of T. calliphoroides, armed with a discussion on its morphology, function, and possible evolutionary implications.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Drs. Mei-Qin Liu and Jun-Na Shi (Beijing Forestry University), who gave us invaluable help with this study. This study was supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (no. NCET-12-0783) and the National Science Foundation of China (no. 31201741).
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The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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D. Zhang and X. H. Liu contributed equally to this work.
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Zhang, D., Liu, X.H., Wang, Q.K. et al. Sensilla on the antenna of blow fly, Triceratopyga calliphoroides Rohdendorf (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Parasitol Res 113, 2577–2586 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-3909-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-3909-6