ENT313.

INSECT MORPHOLOGY
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EXERCISE #6
The Thoracic Appendages: THE WINGS
Date Performed: ____________________________________ Date Submitted: ____________
Name : ____________________________________ Section : ____________

Introduction:
The insect wings are located in the pterothorax of the thoracic segment. Wings consist of a flattened
structure of the body wall supported by several hollow tubes, called veins. The arrangement of veins on
the wing surface is called wing venation also known as nervures. Typical adult insects have two pairs of
wings, which are referred to as the forewings (found in mesothorax) and hindwings (found in metathorax)
respectively. The wings are modified in various ways for their special functions and often the fore wings
are hardened and serve as protection to the hind wings. The wings basically consist of longitudinal veins
(anterior to posterior) and cross veins. At the bases of the wings, small sclerites are found that served as
an attachment to the thorax, allowing movements of the wings in flight. Additionally, it enables the wings
to be flexed back over the body when at rest.

With the ability of insects to fly, insects have successfully colonized the terrestrial environment.

Objective/s:

1. Illustrate and label parts of an insect wing

2. Identify wing types and modifications.

1. COCKROACH (Forewing)

Costa - the leading/first vein of the wing; unbranched vein in or near the anterior margin

Subcosta – the second vein, posterior to the costa, typically forked at the distal into two-branched.

Radius (R) – the third and generally the strongest vein of the wing; it forks near the base: the
anterior branch is undivided, the posterior branch or radial sector forks twice to form four branches.

Media (M) – often the fourth longitudinal vein running through the central region of the wing in
most insects.

Cubitus (Cu) - fifth longitudinal vein; one of the main veins that provides support to the wing
structure

Anal veins (A) - veins behind the cubitus, typically unbranched (also called vannal veins by
Snodgrass).
Remigium - region of the wing anterior to the vannal fold, containing the costal, subcostal, radial, and
medial, cubital, also called the preaanal area.

Vannal region - behind the cubitus containing the anal veins including the pre-anal area, often forming
an expanded fanlike area of the wing.

Humeral – area describe as base or situated to the humerus portion or shoulder

Basal fold – also called plica basalis

Anal veins – unbranched vein behind the cubitus

unbranched veins behind the cubitus

Axillary membrane - membranous area located at the base of the wing having several small sclerites.

Axillary cord – area located at the posterior margin of the membrane that appears corrugated and is
continuous with the scutellum.

Anterior notal wing process – the anterior lobe of the lateral margin of the alinotum supporting the
neck of the axillary

Posterior notal wing process – the posterior lobe of the lateral margin of the alinotum supporting the
third axillary sclerite of the wing base.

Vannal fold – a distinctive fold in the anal area of the wing, also called plica vannalis.

Jugal fold – also called plica jugalis.

Axillary sclerites – the sclerites associated with the axillary region in the wing flexing insects.

ARTICULATION OF THE WING

2. DRAGON FLY

Structures to examine:

Humeral plate – the plate located on anterior region of the wing that supports the costal vein.

Costal vein - unbranched vein in or near the anterior margin, front edge of the wing. The first vein
located in the most anterior side of the wing.

Intermediate sclerite - small sclerite located at the base of the costal vein.

Axillary plate – four basal shaft of the postcostal vein.

 TYPES OF THE WINGS

Tegmen – leathery in texture, mostly the forewing, with some veins visible, common in insect Orders:
Orthoptera, Blattodea, Phasmatodea, Mantodea, and Dermaptera.

Membranous – membrane-like, many veins clearly visible such the forwings and hindwings in the
following insect Orders: Odonata, Hymenoptera, Isoptera and Neuroptera. The hindwings of the most
insect except Lepidoptera and Diptera.

Hemelytra – forewing with leathery basal portion and membranous distal portion common in insect
Order Hemiptera.

Elytra – thickened and hard forewing, conceals the membranous veins in the insect order Coleoptera.

Scaly – forewing and hindwing covered with scales such as that found in insect order Lepidoptera.

Haltere – knob-like structure in the metathorax, hindwing modified as balancing structure found only in
the insect order Diptera.

MODIFICATIONS IN WING STRUCTURE

Wing-Coupling Devices)

Hamuli - row of hooks on the hindwing along the coastal margin which fits into the incurved posterior
edge of the forewing in honeybee, used to link the front wing and hind wings together in flight.

Frenulum – a stout bristle or tuff of bristles which fits into a retinaculum on the forewing in most moths,
a wing coupling mechanism in any moths, a wing coupling mechanism in many moths.

Complexiform hindwing – the proximal region of the costal margin of the hindwing is greatly extended
forward beneath the fore wing. This overlapping ensures synchronous movements of the two wings in
some butterflies.
ILLUSTRATE AND LABEL