Scanning electron microscopy studies of antennal sensilla of <i>Ooencyrtus phongi</i> (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Abstract

Ooencyrtus phongi (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is an important egg parasitoid of the litchi stink bug, Tessaratoma papillosa (Drury) (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae). Antennae of parasitic Hymenoptera are important sensory organs and play an important role in host location, host discrimination, courtship, and mating behavior. In this article, we examined the external morphology of the antennal sensilla of female and male of O. phongi using scanning electron microscopy. Twelve morphological sensillar types were recognized in both sexes, including the placoid sensilla, basiconic sensilla, two types of sensilla trichodea, and eight types of sensilla chaetica. Major differences were found between the sexes, in number, distribution, shape, structure, and size of the identified sensilla. These results are discussed in relation to the possible role of these sensilla in the host location behavior of O. phongi.