The Chemosensilla on Tarsi of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae): Distribution, Ultrastructure, Expression of Chemosensory Proteins

The chemosensilla on the tarsi of Locusta migratoria were mapped using light microscopy, as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Only chemosensilla chaetica were found on the tarsi. On the basis of their ultrastructure, these can be grouped into three main subtypes: short, long, and sunken sensilla chaetica. Short sensilla chaetica can be further divide into two groups containing 6 or 7 neurons. Long sensilla chaetica are mainly located on the lateral surface of the tarsi. Short sensilla chaetica were mainly found on the dorsal surface of the tarsi. Sunken sensilla chaetica were only found on the ventral surface, such as the pulvilli and arolium. Immunocytochemical localization of chemosensory protein (CSP) was performed on ultrathin sections of chemosensilla on tarsi. The antiserum against LmigCSP-II intensively labeled all three types of sensilla chaetica. Gold granules were concentrated in the outer sensillum lymph surrounding the dendrite sheath, while the inner sensillum lymph containing dendrite branches was never labeled. Massive labeling with the anti-LmigCSP-II was also found in cuticle of the pulvilli on the ventral surface of tarsi. J. Morphol. 270:1356-1363, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.