Material Properties and Morphology of Prestomal Teeth in Relation to the Feeding Habits of Diptera (Brachycera).

ABSTRACT: Prestomal teeth are cuticular projections on the mouthparts of some fly species that rasp surfaces when feeding. Although prestomal teeth morphology has been reported for several fly species, their material properties have not been investigated. Here we report the morphology, elemental composition, extent of sclerotization, hardness, and elastic modulus of prestomal teeth and relate these findings to feeding habits. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that species categorized as flower visitors have a large labellum with numerous pseudotracheae and lack prestomal teeth, generalist species have these same features but with prestomal teeth, and specialist species that feed on blood or other insects have a smaller labellum with few or no pseudotracheae and relatively large prestomal teeth.

SUBMITTER: Lehnert MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8880167 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature