• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.45 no.3 s.144
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• pp.375-380
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• 2006

A solitary endoparasitoid, Cotesia plutellae, parasitizes diamondback moth, Plutellae xylostella. It has been suggested that its antennae are a major sensory organ to search host and recognize host developmental and other physiological condition during parasitization. This research was performed to understand the parasitic behavior of C. plutellae by analyzing sensory types and their numbers on the antennae using scanning electron microscope. There was no significant difference in antennal length in both male and female C. plutellae, in which both sexes had 16 flagellomeres. Three different types of sensilla (trichoid, seta, and placodea sensilla) were located mostly on flagella and analyzed in their density on the different antennomeres. Trichoid sensillum was the major sensory type and showed about 87% density among all sensilla. Both trichoid and placodea types of sensilla exhibited even numbers on all flagellomeres with some decrease at terminal segments. In contrast, seta form of sensilla showed drastic increase in its density at distal part after 9th flagellomere. When distal half of flagellomeres were cut off, the C. plutellae could not parasitize host larvae. Even when only four distal flagellomeres were removed, the parasitism showed only 30%. These results indicate that C. plutellae antennae are required for parasitism and suggest that seta form of sensilla may play significant roles in recognizing host for parasitization.