Anatomical organization of antennal-lobe glomeruli in males and females of the scarab beetle Holotrichia diomphalia (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae)

The glomerular organization of the primary olfactory brain center, the antennal lobe, was studied in males and females of Holotrichia diomphalia adults using serial histological sections labeled by the reduced silver-stain technique. The results revealed an apparent sexual dimorphism. Whereas an enlarged cap-shaped glomerulus was found at the antennal nerve entrance into the antennal lobe in males, no such unit was present in females. Also the size of the antennal lobe differed between the sexes, the antennal lobe of males being larger than that of females. We estimated the total number of glomeruli at approximately 60 units in the female antennal lobe. In males, we could discriminate only those glomeruli that were located in the anterior area of the antennal lobe.

► The sexual dimorphic glomeruli within the beetles is descripted for the first time. ► A total number of approximately 60 units in female antennal lobe. ► A suppositon that the male-specific MG receives input from pheromone-detecting receptor neurons housed by the sensilla basiconca.