Comparative morphology of sensilla styloconica on the proboscis of North American Nymphalidae and other selected taxa (Lepidoptera) : systematic and ecological considerations
- Sensilla styloconica are elongated microscopically conspicuous chemo-mechano receptors found exclusively at the tongue tip of many adult Lepidoptera. These unique proboscis sensilla were comparatively studied using the scanning electron microscope in 107 species of North American and tropical butterflies. Focus was on 76 species of North American Nymphalidae representing 45 genera and 11 subfamily groups, and 15 species of tropical Nymphalidae representing additional genera and subfamilies. Observations of adult nymphalid feeding behaviour and food preference for correlation with morphological characteristics were made largely in North America and substantially in the Neotropics, where bait traps were used in conjunction with aerial netting. The tongue tips of 16 additional species representing 5 more butterfly families were also examined for the presence and morphological characteristics of sensilla styloconica.