A scanning electron microscopic study on the cephalic cuticular sensillae of different larval stages of Antheraea assamensis, an indigenous silkworm species of Northeast India.

Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of a number of cuticular sensillae on the head of different larval stages of the ''Muga'' silk moth, Antheraea assamensis. These include four types of sensilla trichodea, bead-like folded sensilla, two types of sensilla basi- conica, and sensory pegs. The study seems to be the first attempt in describing the morphology and distribution pattern of the cephalic cuticular sensillae of different larval stages of the silk moth Antheraea assamensis, an indigenous species of Northeast India. The possible significance of the sensillae in searching behavior of the larval stages during feeding is discussed with the help of available literature. Microsc. Res. Tech. 72:924-932, 2009. V V C 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.