Vol. 4, Issue 1, Part B (2022)

The silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, (Gennadius), is an invasive pest causing significant damages to a wide range of crops around the world. In this study, the external morphology and distribution of sensilla on the antennal flagella of adult male and female B. tabaci, was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Five types of sensory organs were recognized in both sexes, of B. tabaci; microtrichia sensilla, basiconic sensilla, grooved surface trichodea sensilla, chaetae sensilla, coeloconic sensilla, and finger-like sensilla. Four coeloconic sensilla, were observed on the antenna sub-segments, two in the first sub-segment, one in the third sub-segment, and one in the fifth sub-segment. basiconic sensilla (BS) were present on the antenna sub-segments of both sexes as single BS in the first, fourth, and fifth sub-segments with deep lengthwise grooves. In contrast, chaetae sensilla were found exclusively on the pedicel in both sexes. Although the types, and the distribution numbers of sensilla antennae of males and female were basically similar, major differences were recorded between the sexes in length of the antennae, whereas females have greater longer of the antennae than males. These results would be helpful for further studies on detailed in the host location behavior of B. tabaci.