Sensory receptors on abdominal and thorax segments in male and female red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Abstract

The red palm weevil is a major pest infesting date trees in many countries located around the Middle East and Arabian Gulf region. To further describe the mechanism of insect-plant chemical communication, we observed the body segments and their sensilla of R.ferrugineus by scanning electron microscopy. In both sexes, there were twelve types of sensilla found on the thorax and abdominal segments: sex types of sensilla coeloconic, four types of sensilla trichoid, sensilla bifid and sensilla basiconica. We described morphological and discussed possible functions.