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DIPTERA 



" squama." * Those Muscidae in which the squama covers the 

 halter like a hood are called" calypterate." In Fig. 216, we 



represent these structures, and in 

 the explanation have mentioned the 

 synonyms. The terms we think 

 must applicable to the three lobes 

 are alula, antisquama, squama. The 

 squama may be called " calypter " 

 when it covers the halter. 



The halteres — commonly called 



or poisers — are perhaps 



the most characteristic of all the 



Fig. 216. — Parts at the base of the balancers 

 wing in Calliphora. a, Anal 

 angle or lobe of the wing ; b, 



alula ; c, antisquama, squama Dipterous structures, though they are 



alaris, or antitegula ; d, squama, x . ° . 



sqnania thoracicalis, tegula, caly- absent in most Ol the lew WlllgleSS 



pter, or calyptron ; e posterior formg Q f the Q rc l er> Outside the Dip- 



extremity (scutellum) ot the _ _ * 



mesothorax ; /, scutum of meso- tera similar organs appear to exist 

 tllorax - only in male Coccidae. The pair of 



halteres is placed on the metathorax, one on each of the pleural 

 regions. They are believed to be the homologues of the hind 

 wings ; Weinland states 2 that certain canals existing in the interior 

 of the halter correspond to wing-nervures. The halter may be 

 described as a small rod-like body with a head like a pin, this 

 terminal part being, ■ however, rather variable in form. We 

 have already stated that in many Diptera the squama forms a 

 hood, the position of which leads to the belief that it is an 

 important adjunct to the halter. Although the exact functions 

 of the halteres are far from clear, it is certain that they are 

 highly complex bodies, of extremely delicate structure : they are 

 doubtless sense-organs, possessing as they do, groups of papillae 

 on the exterior and a chordotonal organ (a structure for assist- 

 ing the perception of sound) in the basal part ; each halter 

 is provided with four muscles at the base, and can, like the 

 wings, execute most rapid vibrations. Seeing that they are the 

 homologues of wings, it is a remarkable fact that in no Diptera 

 are they replaced by wings, or by structures intermediate between 

 these two kinds of organs. 



Internal Structure. — Information about the internal anatomy 



1 Osten Sacken, although making use of the terms tegula and antitegula, 

 suggested the propriety of using squama and antisquama, as we have done. 

 - Zeitschr. wiss. Zoo/, li. 1891, p. 55. 



