Morphology of the deutocerebrum of female Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

A description of the deutocerebrum of female Aedes aegypti (L.) based on silver-stained semithin (0.5 μm) serial sections of whole heads is presented. Paired aglomerular (mechanosensory) regions and paired glomerular (antennal) lobes, which are organized into nine islets, occur in the deutocerebrum. Commissural tracts connect the glomerular lobes just under the median fissure of the brain. The circumoesophageal connective links the two aglomerular regions. A nerve tract passes around the central body posteriorly and apparently connects the two glomerular lobes. The antennal glomerular tract joins the glomerular lobes to the posterior dorsal regions of the median foot of the mushroom body. A small branch leads from the antennal glomerular tract to an accessory lobe, located about half way between the mushroom body and the glomerular lobes. Additionally, a relatively large nerve tract leads from the glomerular lobe into the suboesophageal ganglion.