Fine Structure of the Thin-Walled Sensory Pegs on the Antenna of a Beetle, Popilius disjunctus (Coleoptera; Passalidae)

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Abstract
Thin-walled pegs with pores in their wall are present on the antennal flagellum of the passalid beetle, Popilius disjunctus (Illiger). The dendrites of the sensory neurones associated with these pegs have a short ciliary region distal to which neurofilaments are the only cytoplasmic elements to be found within them. Upon entering the peg lumen the dendrites branch and from these branches fine filaments resembling microvilli extend to the wall of the peg and enter the pores in it. The tips of these filaments are exposed to the surrounding atmosphere at the pore openings. The present study demonstrates the occurrence within the order Coleoptera of thin-walled pegs similar to those found on the antennae of.one or more representative species from each of the other major insect orders.