Surface Ultrastructure of Antenna and Distribution of Sensilla in the Leptogenys chinensis (Mayr) (Fabricus) (Formicidae: Hymenoptera)

ABSTRACT

Ants have a well-developed pair of antenna with sensory system used in chemical communication for sociallives. The antennae comprise of two parts scape and funiculus. Funiculus contains single segmented pediceland ten segmented flagellum. The surface micro-morphology of the antennal sensilla of Leptogenys chinensisworker showsthe presence of various types ofsensilla viz.sensilla trichodea, sensilla trichodea curvata,sensillabasiconica,sensilla coeloconica,sensilla chaetica,sensilla coelocapitular. Sensilla trichodea is distributed on allparts of the antenna. Sensilla trichodea curvata type III is typically present on flagellar segments only. Sensillabasiconica with arrowhead present on scape ball is slightly different than the sensilla basiconica with roundedhead present on the flagellar tip. Sensilla coelocapitularis observed only on the flagellar tip. On the joint ofscapeball and pedicilar shaft, three types of sensilla trichodea are present on the ball ridge while sensilla basiconicadistributed on the dorso-lateral margin of the ball..