Wing Specializations

What are wings?

Extensions of thoracic cuticle, supported by a network of hardened veins providing structural support.

Where are wings attached?

The meso and metathorax, NEVER prothorax.

What is the Comstock-Needham System?

The naming system for veins, used for identifications.

Wings are just for flight.

False, highly modified.

What are elytra?

Hardened forewings.

Eleodes spp:

Have elytra fused at the midline so they are permanently fused shut, making hindwing vestigial.

What are hemelytra?

Partially hardened forewings.

What are hamuli?

Wing-coupling mechanism.

What are halteres?

Modified hindwing that act as stabilizers.

Which orders are examples of secondary wing loss?

Siphonaptera (fleas) and Phthiraptera (infraorder, lice).

Which modification do Coleoptera have?

Elytra.

Which modification do Hemiptera have?

Hemelytra.

Which modification do Hymenoptera have?

Hamuli.

Which modification do Diptera have?

Halteres.