Evolutionary functional morphology of the proboscis and feeding apparatus of hawk moths (Sphingidae: Lepidoptera)
- PMID: 36059242
- PMCID: PMC9825987
- DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21510
Evolutionary functional morphology of the proboscis and feeding apparatus of hawk moths (Sphingidae: Lepidoptera)
- PMID: 36059242
- PMCID: PMC9825987
- DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21510
Abstract
The morphology of the proboscis and associated feeding organs was studied in several nectar-feeding hawk moths, as well as a specialized honey-feeder and two supposedly nonfeeding species. The proboscis lengths ranged from a few millimeters to more than 200 mm. Despite the variation in proboscis length and feeding strategy, the principle external and internal composition of the galeae, the stipes pump, and the suction pump were similar across all species. The morphology of the smooth and slender proboscis is highly conserved among all lineages of nectar-feeding Sphingidae. Remarkably, they share a typical arrangement of the sensilla at the tip. The number and length of sensilla styloconica are independent from proboscis length. A unique proboscis morphology was found in the honey-feeding species Acherontia atropos. Here, the distinctly pointed apex displays a large subterminal opening of the food canal, and thus characterizes a novel type of piercing proboscis in Lepidoptera. In the probably nonfeeding species, the rudimentary galeae are not interlocked and the apex lacks sensilla styloconica; galeal muscles, however, are present. All studied species demonstrate an identical anatomy of the stipes, and suction pump, regardless of proboscis length and diet. Even supposedly nonfeeding Sphingidae possess all organs of the feeding apparatus, suggesting that their proboscis rudiments might still be functional. The morphometric analyses indicate significant positive correlations between galea lumen volume and stipes muscle volume as well as the volume of the food canal and the muscular volume of the suction pump. Size correlations of these functionally connected organs reflect morphological fine-tuning in the evolution of proboscis length and function.
Keywords: insects; mouthparts; sensilla; suction pump.
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Morphology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Figures
Figure 1
Head and coiled proboscis of…
Figure 1
Head and coiled proboscis of three Sphingidae, left labial palpus removed (LM photos).…
Figure 2
Proboscis of various Sphingidae (SEM).…
Figure 2
Proboscis of various Sphingidae (SEM). (a) Nectar‐feeding Deilephila elpenor ; the galeal surface…
Figure 3
Proboscis sensilla in various Sphingidae…
Figure 3
Proboscis sensilla in various Sphingidae (SEM). (a) Galea tip of Sphinx pinastri ;…
Figure 4
Cross sections of proboscises of…
Figure 4
Cross sections of proboscises of three Sphingidae (semithin sections; all sections at the…
Figure 5
Head, muscles of the proboscis…
Figure 5
Head, muscles of the proboscis base, and the stipes pump of three Sphingidae;…
Figure 6
Volumes of functionally connected organs…
Figure 6
Volumes of functionally connected organs of the feeding apparatus correlate significantly. Spearman's rank…
Figure 7
Suction pumps of three Sphingidae;…
Figure 7
Suction pumps of three Sphingidae; reconstructions from microCT images (all species at same…
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