Morphology, Distribution and Sexual Dimorphism of Sensilla in the Tea Leaf Beetle Basilepta melanopus (Coleoptera: Eumolpidae)

Abstract

Simple Summary The tea leaf beetle (Basilepta melanopus) is a growing threat to tea plantations in China, adults feed on tea leaves and cause serious crop losses. To develop more sustainable pest control methods, we need to understand how these beetles sense their environment—how they find tea plants, recognize mates, and choose where to feed and lay eggs. In this study, we used high-powered microscopes to examine the tiny sensory structures (sensilla) on different body parts of male and female beetles. We found a rich variety of these structures, with clear differences between the sexes. For example, males have unique smell sensors on their antennae, while females have larger touch sensors on their legs. These differences suggest that males and females use their senses differently for finding mates and selecting egg-laying sites. Our detailed map of these sensory tools provides essential clues for designing new pest management tactics, such as sex-specific traps or natural feeding repellents, that could reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and help protect tea crops more effectively.