ANTENNAL SENSILLA OF WHITEFLIES - TRIALEURODES-VAPORARIORUM (WESTWOOD), THE GLASSHOUSE WHITEFLY, ALEYRODES PROLETELLA (LINNAEUS), THE CABBAGE WHITEFLY, AND BEMISIA-TABACI (GENNADIUS), THE TOBACCO WHITEFLY (HOMOPTERA, ALEYRODIDAE) .1. EXTERNAL MORPHOLOGY

Scanning electron microscopy has revealed the detailed structure of th e antennae of three species of whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Al eyrodes proletella, and Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae). All 3 species have microtrichia and 5 types of sensilla on the antennae: ch aetica, campaniform, basiconic, coeloconic, and pegs with digitate tip s, the latter 3 of these being unique to the flagellum. The number and distribution of the sensilla unique to the flagellum vary among the s pecies studied. The cuticle of the basiconic and the coeloconic sensil la is pitted and grooved, respectively, a prerequisite for an olfactor y and/or a thermo-, hygroreceptive function. A sexual dimorphism does occur with respect to the position of the basiconic sensilla on flagel la segment 5 of A, proletella, but not T. vaporariorum or B. tabaci.