Abstract
The antennal sensory appendix of Ctenicera destructor (Brown) appears to be a compound sensillum basiconicum formed by a union of about 12 individual sensilla. It is innervated by about 36 bipolar sense cells of type I, which occur usually in 12 groups of three neurons each. The sensory cuticle is large, cone-shaped, and abundantly perforated by a slit-tubule system. The dendrites of each group of neurons are enclosed distally by a single tubular cuticular sheath attached to the base of the cone by a suspensory fiber system. The ensheathed portion of the dendrites lies in a receptor-lymph cavity formed by the tormogen and accessory trophic cells. Distal dendritic branches pass below and occasionally enter inner pockets in the sensory cuticle, but no connections were seen between the slit-tubule system and the dendritic surfaces. About 12 of each of four types of cells are associated with the neurons in this sensillum: tormogen, trichogen, accessory trophic, and neurilemma. The ultrastructure and probable function of each type is described. A central, complex junction body region divides each dendrite into morphologically distinct distal and proximal region. All the cells associated with the sensillum are in a compact bundle, which is separated from adjacent sensilla within the antenna by a membranous septum. It is suggested that this sense organ has an olfactory function.