Morphological characteristics and distribution of antennal sensilla of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) using scanning electron microscopy

Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major agricultural pest, primarily in Asia and Oceania. Chemical odor-based trapping is a major method used to control S. litura , and thus understanding the antennal sensilla of S. litura is critical for improving the efficacy of the attractants used in the pest control. In the present study, the S. litura antennal sensillum types were examined by low-voltage field emission scanning electron microscopy, and morphological descriptions were provided. A total of eight types and two subtypes of the antennal sensilla were identified, namely Böhm's bristles, sensilla trichoidea, sensilla basiconica, sensilla chaetica, sensilla coeloconica, sensilla styloconica, sensilla squamiformia (I and II), and sensilla auricillica (I and II). Among them, sensilla squamiformia II, and sensilla auricillica II are reported for the first time in S. litura . This study provides morphological information to aid in future electrophysiological tests on the antennal sensilla of S. litura .