Morphological Characteristics of Rhaphuma horsfieldi and Ultrastructure of Its Antennae and Tarsi

In this study, we conducted a comparative study on the morphological characteristics of female and male adults of Rhaphuma horsfieldi as well as sensilla of their respective antennae and tarsi using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that female abdomen was larger compared to males in R. horsfields, which is recognized as the key morphological identification for this cerambycid beetle. Further, fourteen types of antennal sensilla were observed including 6 types of sensilla basiconica , four types of sensilla trichodea, three types of sensilla chaetica and Böhm bristles. Of these, the BB and SB-VI were present only on male antennae; and the SB and SCh-I were differentially distributed on the antennae of both sexes. In addition, seven types of sensilla were identified on female and male tarsi, consisting of 4 types of SB, one type of ST and 2 types of SCh. No obvious sexual differences were observed on the types, distribution and numbers of the same tarsal sensilla.