Microscopic structure of antennal sensilla in the carpenter ant Camponotus compressus (Fabricius) (Formicidae: Hymenoptera)

The antennae in all castes of the carpenter ant Camponotus compressus were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The antennae are of geniculate type, consisting of a scape and funiculus. The funiculus is subdivided into the pedicel and flagellum. The flagellum consists of a number of segments, ten in females and workers and 11 in males. In all castes the scape is differentiated into a basal ball covered with three types of sensilla and a shaft with sensilla trichodea. The pedicel bears sensilla trichodea densely in all castes, and sensilla basiconica in the female only. The flagellum contains sensilla trichodea curvata, sensilla trichodea, sensilla basiconica and sensilla chaetica in females, sensilla basiconica in workers and sensilla chaetica in males.