THE PERMEABILITY OF THE SENSORY PEGS ON THE ANTENNAE OF THE GRASSHOPPER (ORTHOPTERA, ACRIDIDAE)

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Abstract
1. When an aqueous solution of acid fuchsin is applied to the surface of the living antenna of a grasshopper the dye enters the tips of the largest of three types of basiconic sense organs while the other two types are unaffected. 2. The permeability to water and to dye of these long basiconic pegs on the antenna of the living grasshopper strongly supports the conclusions of earlier workers with other insects that such structures may serve as chemoreceptors, as hygroreceptors, or as both. 3. The permeability to water and to dye of the pegs of the coeloconic sense organs on the surface of the antennae of preserved grasshoppers suggests that these, too, may function as chemoreceptors, as hygroreceptors, or as both but the evidence is less satisfactory than it is for the long basiconic pegs. 4. Positive results with the staining method described in the present paper indicate that the structure tested is permeable to acid fuchsin and to water and, probably, to many other substances as well. Negative results mean either (1) that the strucure is completely or nearly impermeable to acid fuchsin or (2) that any of the stain which did enter was lost in later handling.

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