ANTENNAL OLFACTORY SENSILLA OF THE PARASITOID FLY, PSEUDOPERICHAETA-NIGROLINEATA WALKER (DIPTERA, TACHINIDAE)

The antennal sensilla of male and female Pseudoperichaeta nigrolineata Walker (Diptera:Tachinidae) were studied by scanning electron microsc opy. Five types of sensilla were identified on the funicle. The tricho id sensilla are most conspicuous, with a characteristic distal curvatu re and wall pores. Basiconic types I and II sensilla show a small peg with a pitted surface. Basiconic type III sensilla can be distinguishe d from the preceding ones by the swelling of the distal region of the peg. The function of these sensilla is likely to be olfactory. Coeloco nic sensilla consist of a short grooved peg sunk in a socket. The numb er and distribution of the sensilla of each type are described. Female antennae bear more basiconic sensilla than those of males. These resu lts are compared with previously published studies on other muscoid sp ecies. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.