Gustatory sense organs in the food canal of aphids

TLDR

A sensory structure in the anterior food canal of two aphid species was examined by light and electron microscopy. The dorsal wall contains 60 neurons terminating at 14 porous papillae, paired papillae are present on the ventral wall, neuronal morphology suggests chemosensory function, and moulting aphids shed distal dendrites with the exuviae.

Abstract

Abstract A sensory structure in the anterior region of the food canal of two species of aphid has been examined by light and electron microscopy. The dorsal wall is innervated by a total of 60 neurones which terminate, in groups, at 14 porous papillae on the cuticle. Paired papillae have also been detected in the ventral wall of this region. The fine structure of individual neurones and their grouping around papillae indicates a chemosensory function. The examination of moulting aphids shows that the distal portions of dendrites are shed with the exuviae.