Florida Entomologist (2011) 94, 379-388

Guo-Na Zhang, Helen Hull-Sanders, Fei Hu, Wei Dou, Jin-Zhi Niu and Jin-Jun Wang (2011)
Morphological characterization and distribution of sensilla on maxillary palpi of six Bactrocera fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Florida Entomologist 94 (3), 379-388
Abstract: Several members of the Tephritidae (Diptera) are destructive pests of fruits and vegetables. This study used scanning electron microscopy to analyze the external morphology, typology, size, and distribution of maxillary palpus sensilla of both female and male adults of 6 fruit fly species, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), B. diaphora (Hendel), B. dorsalis (Hendel), B. minax (Enderlein), B. scutellata (Hendel), and B. tau (Walker). The palpus is equipped with sensilla chaetica, sensilla basiconica, and microtrichia. In addition, the possible functions of the sensillum types are discussed. Probable functions include the mechanoreception of sensilla chaetica and microtrichia, and olfaction of sensilla basiconica. Future functional morphology and electrophysiological studies are needed to confirm these proposed functions.
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Database assignments for author(s): Jin-Jun Wang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bactrocera dorsalis
	Zeugodacus cucurbitae
	Zeugodacus scutellatus
	Zeugodacus tau
	Bactrocera minax