Between extreme simplification and ideal optimization: antennal sensilla morphology of miniaturized Megaphragma wasps (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)статьяИсследовательская статья
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Аннотация:One of the major trends in the evolution of parasitoid wasps is miniaturization,which has produced the smallest known insects. Megaphragma spp. (Hymenoptera:Trichogrammatidae) are smaller than some unicellular organisms, with an adult bodylength of the smallest only 170 mm. Their parasitoid lifestyle depends on retentionof a high level of sensory reception comparable to that in parasitoid wasps thatmay have antennae hundreds of times larger. Antennal sensilla of males and femalesof Megaphragma amalphitanum and M. caribea and females of the parthenogeneticM. mymaripenne are described, including sensillum size, external morphology, anddistribution. Eight different morphological types of sensilla were discovered, two ofthem appearing exclusively on female antennae. Two of the types, sensilla styloconicaand aporous placoid sensilla, have not been described previously. Regression analyseswere performed to detect and evaluate possible miniaturization trends by comparingavailable data for species of larger parasitoid wasps. The number of antennal sensilla wasfound to decrease with the body size; M. amalphitanum males have only 39 sensilla perantenna. The number of antennal sensilla types and sizes of the sensilla, however, showlittle to no correlation with the body size. Our findings on the effects of miniaturizationon the antennal sensilla of Megaphragma provide material for discussion on the limitsto the reduction of insect antenna.