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<p>Antennal sensilla play an essential role in perceiving chemical and mechanical cues critical to communication, foraging, and colony coordination in ants. Despite their importance, sensillar diversity and distribution remains poorly understood in many ponerine species. Here, we present a comparative ultra-morphological analysis of antennal sensilla in <i>Pseudoneoponera bispinosa</i> and <i>P. rufipes</i> using scanning electron microscopy. Sixteen sensillar types and subtypes have been documented in both the species, with eleven types being common and several unique to each of the species. Notably, three sensillar types—sensilla trichodea I (STI), sensilla trichodea III (STIII), and sensilla coeloconica III (SCoIII) are being reported for the first time in ants, thus, highlighting the structural diversification and species-specific adaptations. The variations observed, likely reflect ecological and behavioral specializations related to habitat use and communication. Moreover, comparative mapping of dorsal and ventral surfaces of the antennae reveals marked asymmetry in the abundance and dimensions of key sensillar types (SCh, SB, STC), suggesting functional partitioning of mechano- and chemoreceptive regions. Our findings expand the existing sensillar profile for Ponerinae and provide new evidence for the sensory diversification that may underlie ecological adaptation and evolution in primitive ant lineages.</p>

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Ultra-morphology and comparative analysis of antennal sensory array in two species of ponerinae ant, Pseudoneoponera

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月8日

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  • Harmanbir Kaur Randhawa,
  • Meenakshi Bharti,
  • Himender Bharti

摘要

Antennal sensilla play an essential role in perceiving chemical and mechanical cues critical to communication, foraging, and colony coordination in ants. Despite their importance, sensillar diversity and distribution remains poorly understood in many ponerine species. Here, we present a comparative ultra-morphological analysis of antennal sensilla in Pseudoneoponera bispinosa and P. rufipes using scanning electron microscopy. Sixteen sensillar types and subtypes have been documented in both the species, with eleven types being common and several unique to each of the species. Notably, three sensillar types—sensilla trichodea I (STI), sensilla trichodea III (STIII), and sensilla coeloconica III (SCoIII) are being reported for the first time in ants, thus, highlighting the structural diversification and species-specific adaptations. The variations observed, likely reflect ecological and behavioral specializations related to habitat use and communication. Moreover, comparative mapping of dorsal and ventral surfaces of the antennae reveals marked asymmetry in the abundance and dimensions of key sensillar types (SCh, SB, STC), suggesting functional partitioning of mechano- and chemoreceptive regions. Our findings expand the existing sensillar profile for Ponerinae and provide new evidence for the sensory diversification that may underlie ecological adaptation and evolution in primitive ant lineages.