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Scanning electron microscopy of antennal sensilla of the eight Anopheles species of the Hyrcanus Group (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand

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Abstract

Antennal sensilla were first investigated in the eight medically and veterinary important Anopheles mosquito species (Anopheles argyropus, Anopheles crawfordi, Anopheles nigerrimus, Anopheles nitidus, Anopheles paraliae (= Anopheles lesteri), Anopheles peditaeniatus, Anopheles pursati, and Anopheles sinensis) of the Hyrcanus Group in Thailand, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Four types of sensilla, including sensilla chaetica (large and small), sensilla trichodea (sharp- and blunt-tipped), sensilla basiconica or grooved pegs (types I, II, and III), and sensilla coeloconica (large and small), were observed on the female antennae of the eight species. The greatest number of sensilla found along the flagellum of all the Anopheles species consisted of sensilla trichodea. Grooved pegs type II were not found on the antennae of An. peditaeniatus. Interestingly, clusters of 10–15 grooved pegs type III, with blunt-tipped and unevenly grooved-lengthwise sensilla, and a sunken group of 7–12 grooved pegs type III, with slightly curved and point-tipped sensilla, were found distally on flagellomeres 3–7 of An. argyropus and An. peditaeniatus, respectively. In addition, the key for species identification, based on fine structure and morphometrics of antennal sensilla among the eight species, was constructed and differentiated successfully. However, in order to focus intensively on the exact function of these sensilla, further electrophysiological study is needed in understanding their significant role in mosquito behavior, especially when these insects seek hosts for transmitting pathogens to humans.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Diamond Research Grant of the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University to Atiporn Saeung, the Thailand Research Fund through the TRF Senior Research Scholar (grant number RTA5880001) to Wanchai Maleewong and Atiporn Saeung, research grant from the University of Malaya (RP021A/16SUS) to Hiroyuki Takaoka, and the Faculty of Medicine Graduate Student Scholarship and Faculty of Medicine Research Fund, Chiang Mai University, to Chayanit Hempolchom. Also, the Research Administration Office, Chiang Mai University, provided a budget to the Excellence Center in Insect Vector Study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Chayanit Hempolchom, Kritsana Taai, Watcharatip Dedkhad & Atiporn Saeung

  2. Medical Science Research Equipment Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand

    Thippawan Yasanga

  3. Department of Disease Control, Office of Disease Prevention and Control, 1st, Ministry of Public Health, Chiang Mai, 50000, Thailand

    Adulsak Wijit

  4. Entomology Section, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, P.O. Box 7, Chiang Mai, 50180, Thailand

    Wichai Srisuka

  5. Faculty of Veterinary Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand

    Sorawat Thongsahuan

  6. Research Center for the Pacific Islands, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, 890-8580, Japan

    Yasushi Otsuka

  7. Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia

    Hiroyuki Takaoka

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  1. Chayanit Hempolchom
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  2. Thippawan Yasanga
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  8. Yasushi Otsuka
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Correspondence to Atiporn Saeung.

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Hempolchom, C., Yasanga, T., Wijit, A. et al. Scanning electron microscopy of antennal sensilla of the eight Anopheles species of the Hyrcanus Group (Diptera: Culicidae) in Thailand. Parasitol Res 116, 143–153 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-5270-4

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