Morphology and Distribution of Mechanoreceptors of Diaspididae Females (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha)

Abstract

The structure of the female bodies of several Diaspididae species was examined using leica-microsystems. Several types of michanical sensilla for nine species were described . they were Parlatoria zizyphii , Parlatori aoleae, Abgrallaspis mendax , Dynaspidiotus britannicus , Hemiperlesia cyanophlli , Lepidosaphes ficus , Lepidosaphes beckii, Aulacaspis tubercularis and Diaspidiotus pronorum . The structures of antennae of the different species and antennommers of the antennae were described in P. zizyphii, A. mendax, D. britannicus,H. cyanophlli, L. ficus and A. tubercularis . By tracing the tactial hairs on the studied insect species in P.oleae, L. beckii , A. mendax, D.pronorum and D.britannicus it was found that they exist in several places and differ from one species to another, and they may be found single or double. Also, another mechanoreceptors one campaniforrn sensillum in P. zizyphii , L. beckii and L. ficus some trichodea sensilla as mechanoreceptive setae were found in the prosoma and postsoma in L. beckii, L. ficus and D. pronorum . According to these comparative studies it is hypothesized that the general organization of the sensilla is common to Diaspididae. Four sensillary patterns were recognized, with an attempt to use these data at the systematic level.