Comparative anatomy of the mouth apparatus of the species of the Order Diptera (Arthropoda, Insecta), with emphasis in the functional morphology

Abstract

The diversity of species is correlated with the morphological variation, including variation in the mouth parts, which are the structures are used for feeding, the complete set forming the mouth apparatus, frequently called proboscis. The correlations between morphological adaptations and food habits were shown through the comparative study of the parts that composes the mouth apparatus of the families Bibionidae, Culicidae, Drosophilidae, Phoridae, Psychodidae, Shyrphidae and infraorder Muscomorpha. The specimens were treated with KOH 10% boiled solution followed by an alcoholic series for dehydration and photographed with a photomicroscope. The data showed that the mouth parts suffers variations according to the group analysed in structure and function, being that the knowledge of the presents parts, its functions, as well its size and the inflexibility of the proboscis makes possible to correlate the morphologic adaptations with the food habit and it was possible to find some gradations between the plesiomorphic condition and the apomorphic condition.