Fine Structure of Antennal Sex-Pheromone-Sensitive Sensilla of the Male Cigarette Beetle, Lasioderma serricorne(Coleoptera:Anobiidae)

Abstract

Ultrastructure of sex-pheromone-sensitive sensilla, sensilla basiconica, of the male cigarette beetle was examined. The sensilla have single-walled hair with many perforations of about 30 nm dia. and 20/μm² in density. The sensillum contains 2 sensory cells that have unbranched sensory processes growing up to the apical part of the sensory hair. These results are consistent with those of electrophysiological experiments, which show that one of two sensory cells in the basiconic sensilla responds to a natural pheromone and the other responds to a behavioral inhibitor.