• Applied Microscopy
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2007

Although the biological significance of the antennal sensillae to millipedes are widely understood, the structure and function of the antennal sensillae are still not clear and more precise analysis is required. Thus, this study initiate to reveal the fine structural characteristics of various sensory receptors on the antennae of millipede Oxidus gracilis were observed with field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM). The antennae generally include eight segments, called articles. On the surface of the antennae, there are a variety of sensory receptors which include olfactory and mechanical receptors. We could identify four different types of antennal sensillae in O. gracilis as follows: apical cone sensilla, trichoid sensilla, chatiform sensilla and basiconic sensilla. The most prominent is four large spital cone sensillae on distal tip of the 8th article. Both of trichoid and chaetiform sensillae are abundantly observed at the most of antennal articles. These sharply pointed structures are inclined and slightly curved toward the apex of the sensilla. The basiconic sensilla are further divided into three subtypes: large basiconic sensilla($Bs_1$), small basiconic sensilla($Bs_2$) and spiniform sensilla($Bs_3$). The $Bs_1$ is located at the 5th and 6th articles, while the $Bs_2\;and\;Bs_3 can be seen at the 5th and 7th articles, respectively.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

Utricularia forms small, but complex carnivorous trap along the stem either in water or in soil depending upon species. The shapes and sizes of the traps, appendages, and trichomes are known to differ among aquatic, terrestrial and epiphytic species. In the present study, the morphology and microstructure of the trap in aquatic Utricularia japonica and terrestrial U. livida were examined using light and electron microscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of trap features between the aquatic and terrestrial species. The trap was found to be comprised of a thin walled bladder with numerous capitate trichomes, two-armed bifid and four-armed quadrifid glands in both species; however, the traps of the two species were different in size, and number and morphology of the trichomes and glands. Aquatic Utricularia was chlorenchymatous with chloroplasts distributed throughout the body, whereas the terrestrial species was translucent without plastids due to an adaptation to underground habitats. Furthermore, the former differed considerably in that the traps developed antenna and appendages around the entrance area. A peculiar trap entrance was also noted in U. livida, which exhibited radiating rows of various trichomes within funnel-shaped tissue. A large number of glandular trichomes covered the entrance area and door surface with four trigger hairs each in the aquatic form but only two in the terrestrial form. The glandular trichomes near the door secreted a large amount of mucilage that temporarily composed the velum in the U. japonica, however, it was not observed in the terrestrial species. All of the aforementioned features were highly related in their structure and function during carnivorous mechanism in Utricularia. The current findings provide important data for further comparison of the different life forms within Utricularia.