The lady beetle Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777) is widely distributed around the world and reported as an important natural enemy of aphids, noctuid larvae, leafhoppers, and psyllids. As feeding organs, the mouthparts of H.variegata must play important roles in the feeding process and study on their morphologies will provide insight into their feeding mechanisms. In this study, we examined the fine morphology of the mouthpart of H. variegata in detail, especially the various kinds of sensilla and the comparison with other lady beetles. We found that the basic components are the same as those in other lady beetles, which are labrum, mandible, maxillae, labium, and hypopharynx and the morphologies of these structures are also quite similar to other species; in total, seven kinds of sensilla were identified, and on the basis of their lengths and distribution, 14 types of sensilla can be identified. Specially, the differences between H. variegata and other beetles were compared and the functions of each part, as well as different kinds of sensilla were discussed.

中文翻译：

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瓢虫 Hippodamia variegata（鞘翅目：瓢虫科）口器的功能形态，以及它们的摄食机制

瓢虫 Hippodamia variegata (Goeze, 1777) 广泛分布于世界各地，据报道是蚜虫、夜蛾幼虫、叶蝉和木虱的重要天敌。作为摄食器官，H.variegata 的口器必须在摄食过程中发挥重要作用，对其形态的研究将有助于深入了解其摄食机制。本次研究中，我们详细考察了杂色甲虫口器的精细形态，特别是各种感受器以及与其他瓢虫的比较。我们发现基本组成部分与其他瓢虫相同，分别是唇、下颌、上颌、下唇和下咽，这些结构的形态也与其他物种十分相似；总共确定了七种感觉器，并根据它们的长度和分布，可以识别出 14 种类型的感受器。特别地，比较了杂色甲虫与其他甲虫的区别，讨论了各部分的功能，以及不同种类的感受器。