Anatomical Atlas of the male Drosophila melanogaster

• A1
  • The first branch of the anal vein.

• A1+CuA2
  • The first branch of the anal vein and The second branch of the anterior cubital vein.

• A2
  • The second branch of the anal vein.

• abdomen
  • The third major division of the insect body. It bears no legs.

• abdominal spiracles
  • Syn(s): stigmata.

  • Respiratory openings on the abdomen.

• anatergite
  • Plate on the laterotergite.

• anepimeron
  • Syn(s): pteropleuron.

  • The upper lateral plate of the epimeron.

• anepisternal cleft
  • Syn(s): episternal fissure, basalar cleft.

  • A membrane dividing the anepisternum.

• anepisternum
  • Syn(s): mesopleuron.

  • The upper lateral plate of the episternum.

• antenna
  • A sensory appendage on the head.

• antepronotum
  • Anterior division of the pronotum.

• anterior spiracle
  • Syn(s): mesothoracic spiracle.

  • A respiratory opening on the second thoracic segment.

• arista
  • Structure on the flagellum.

• aristomere 1
  • Syn(s): fourth antennal segment, antennomere 4.

  • The first segment on the arista. Use the zoom function to magnify this structure.

• aristomere 2
  • Syn(s): fifth antennal segment, antennomere 5.

  • The second segment on the arista. Use the zoom function to magnify this structure.

• basitarsi
  • The first segments of the tarsi. They are usually larger than the other tarsomeres.

• bm+dm
  • Syn(s): The second basal cell + discal cell.

  • Basal medial cell fused with the discal medial cell. The bm+dm cell is found posterior to the medial vein.

• br
  • Syn(s): The first basal cell.

  • The basal radial cell is posterior to the radial vein.

• C
  • Syn(s): costal vein, costa.

  • Longitudinal vein forming the anterior edge of the wing.

• cb
  • Syn(s): costal break, costigial break.

  • The first of three breaks in the costal vein. See also hb and sb

• cercus
  • Pl. cerci. Syn(s): anal plate, anal plates.

  • Plates found on each side of the anal segment.

• cervix
  • Syn(s): neck

  • membranous area of prothorax united with the head.

• clypeus
  • A structure on the head situated below the frons and articulating with the labrum.

• compound eye
  • Syn(s): eye.

  • An eye made of many ommatidia each represented externally by a facet.

• coxae
  • The first segment of the legs.

• CuA
  • Stem of the anterior cubital vein.

• CuA1
  • The first branch of the anterior cubital vein.

• CuA2
  • The second branch of the anterior cubital vein.

• CuP
  • Posterior cubital vein.

• cup
  • Syn(s): posterior cubital cell.

  • Cell at the back of the wing associated with the the cubital veins.

• dm-cu
  • Syn(s): discal crossvein.

  • Crossvein between M and CuA1.

• dorsocentral setae
  • Syn(s): dorsocentral bristles.

  • A row of setae on each side of the mesonotum.

• empodium
  • A process between the pulvilli. It is easily confused with setae on the tarsus. Use the zoom function to magnify this structure.

• epandrium
  • Syn(s): genital arch

  • The keel shaped expansion on the epandrium distinguishes D. melanogaster from D. simulans. In simulans the expansion is larger and more rounded.

• epimeron
  • The posterior plate of the mesopleuron separated from the episternum by the pleural suture.

• episternum
  • The anterior plate of the mesopleuron separated from the epimeron by the pleural suture.

• femora
  • The third segment of the legs.

• flagellomere 1
  • The third antennal segment. Often larger than other flagellomeres.

• flagellum
  • The third antennal segment to the last antennal segment.

• fore leg
  • Syn(s): foreleg

  • Appendage on the prothorax.

• fore legs
  • Syn(s): forelegs

  • A pair of appendages on the prothorax.

• frons
  • An area between the antennae, eyes and the vertex. Best seen from the dorsal view.

• fronto-orbital setae
  • Syn(s): orbital bristles

  • Setae on the fronto-orbital plate(s) between the vertex and the bases of the antennae. There are usually three pairs of orbitals on each plate. They are significant in fly identification. Best seen from the dorsal view.

• gena
  • A region under the lower margin of the eye.

• genal groove
  • A depressed groove-like area at the junction of the parafacial and gena. It defines the anterior margin of the gena.

• h
  • Syn(s): humeral crossvein

  • Vein running between the costa and the subcosta

• halter
  • Syn(s): haltere.

  • Modified hind wing, used for balancing during flight.

• hb
  • Syn(s): humeral break

  • A weakening in the costal vein near the humeral crossvein, the second of three breaks. See also cb and sb.

• head capsule
  • Syn(s): cranium, capsula.

  • The fused sclerites of the head that form a hard compact case supporting the mouthparts and antennae.

• head
  • The first major division of the insect body.

• hind leg
  • Syn(s): hindleg

  • Appendage on the metathorax.

• hind legs
  • Syn(s): hindlegs

  • A pair of appendages on the metathorax.

• interocellar setulae
  • Syn(s): interocellar hairs

  • Small setae on the ocellar triangle. Best seen from the dorsal view. Use the zoom function to magnify this structure.

• katatergite
  • Plate on the laterotergite.

• katepimeron
  • Syn(s): barrette.

  • The upper lateral plate of the episternum.

• katepisternal setae
  • Syn(s): sternopleural setae, katepisternal bristles, sternopleural bristles.

  • The katepisternal setae are individually know as the anterior, medial and posterior katepisternal setae. The sterno-index is the ratio of the lengths of the anterior katepisternal and the posterior katepisternal setae. In D. melanogaster it is 0.7.

• katepisternal setulae
  • Smaller setae on the katepisternum.

• katepisternum
  • Syn(s): sternopleuron.

  • The lower lateral plate of the episternum.

• laterotergite
  • Syn(s): pleurotergite, metapleuron.

  • The anatergite and katatergite make up the laterotergite.

• legs
  • Paired appendages on the thorax. There are 3 pairs of legs.

• lunule
  • Syn(s): frontal lunule

  • A roughly crescent shaped area running between the antennae to the top of the antennae.

• M1
  • Medial vein.

• mediotergite
  • A dorsal plate on the thorax.

• meron
  • Syn(s): meropleuron, hypopleuron.

  • A lower plate of the pleuron.

• mesobasitarsus
  • Syn(s): meso-basitarsus, basitarsus 2.

  • The first segment of the mesotarsus, usually larger than the other tarsomeres.

• mesocoxa
  • Syn(s): meso-coxa, coxa 2.

  • The first segment of the middle leg.

• mesofemur
  • Syn(s): meso-femur, femur 2.

  • The third segment of the middle leg.

• mesonotum
  • Syn(s): scutum

  • The mesonotum is divided by the transverse suture into the presutural and postsutural mesonotum.

• mesopleuron
  • Is divided by the pleural suture into an anterior episternum, posterior epimeron and the meron.

• mesotarsus
  • Syn(s): meso-tarsus, tarsus 2.

  • The fifth segment of the middle leg.

• mesotibia
  • Syn(s): meso-tibia, tibia 2.

  • The fourth segment of the middle leg.

• mesotrochanter
  • Syn(s): meso-trochanter, trochanter 2.

  • The second segment of the middle leg.

• metabasitarsus
  • Syn(s): meta-basitarsus, basitarsus 3.

  • The first segment of the metatarsus, usually larger than the other tarsomeres.

• metacoxa
  • Syn(s): meta-coxa, coxa 3.

  • The first segment of the hind leg.

• metafemur
  • Syn(s): meta-femur, femur 3.

  • The third segment of the hind leg.

• metatarsus
  • Syn(s): meta-tarsus, tarsus 3.

  • The fifth segment of the hind leg.

• metatibia
  • Syn(s): meta-tibia, tibia 3.

  • The fourth segment of the hind leg.

• metatrochanter
  • Syn(s): meta-trochanter, trochanter 3.

  • The second segment of the hind leg.

• middle leg
  • Syn(s): middleleg

  • Appendage on the mesothorax.

• middle legs
  • Syn(s): middlelegs

  • A pair of appendages on the mesothorax.

• notopleural setae
  • Syn(s): notoplural bristles.

  • setae on the notopleuron.

• notopleuron
  • A region of the mesonotum.

• occiput
  • An area on the posterior part of the head running between the vertex and the neck.

• ocellar setae
  • Syn(s): ocellar bristles

  • A pair of setae situated at the front of ocellar triangle. They are directed outwards (are "divergent") and of value in fly identification. Best seen from the dorsal view.

• ocellar triangle
  • Syn(s): vertical triangle, ocellar tubercle, ocellar plate.

  • The triangular mound housing the ocelli. Use the zoom function to magnify this structure in lateral view. It is best seen from the dorsal view.

• ocellus
  • Syn(s): simple eye.

  • Only one of the three ocelli is visible in this view. Change to Dorsal view to see them all.

• parafacial
  • Area running between the ptilinal fissure and the eye, abutting the gena ventrally.

• pedicel
  • Syn(s): The second antennal segment, antennomere 2.

  • The pedicel encloses a mass of receptor cells called Johnson's organ.

• pleural suture
  • The external groove formed by the internal pleural ridge that braces and strengthens the pleuron above the leg and the structures at the base of the wing that give the wing support.

• postalar setae
  • Syn(s): postalar bristles.

  • Setae on the postalar callus behind the insertions of the fore wings

• posterior spiracle
  • Syn(s): metathoracic spiracle.

  • A respiratory opening on the third thoracic segment.

• postgena
  • An area on the head behind the gena.

• postgenal setae
  • Syn(s): postgenal bristles.

  • Setae behind the gena.

• postocellar setae
  • Syn(s): postvertical setae, postocellar bristles, postvertical bristles.

  • A pair of setae behind the lateral ocelli. They point toward each other (are "convergent"). They are significant in fly identification. Best seen from the dorsal view.

• postocular setulae
  • Syn(s): postorbital setulae.

  • A row of setulae behind the compound eye.

• postpronotal setae
  • Syn(s): humeral setae, postpronotal bristles, humeral bristles.

  • The setae on the postpronotum.

• postpronotum
  • Syn(s): humeral callus.

  • Posterior part of the pronotum.

• postsutural mesonotum
  • The mesonotum behind the transverse suture.

• presutural mesonotum
  • The mesonotum before the transverse suture.

• presutural seta
  • Syn(s): presutural bristle

  • Seta found anterior to the transverse suture.

• probasitarsus
  • Syn(s): pro-basitarsus, basitarsus 1.

  • The first segment of the protarsus, usually larger than the other tarsomeres.

• proboscis
  • Syn(s): mouthparts.

  • An organ on the head with tubular parts for sucking up liquids.

• procoxa
  • Syn(s): pro-coxa, coxa 1.

  • The first segment of the fore leg.

• proepimeron
  • Epimeron of the prothorax.

• proepisternum
  • Syn(s): propleuron.

  • Episternum of the prothorax.

• profemur
  • Syn(s): pro-femur, femur 1.

  • The third segment of the fore leg.

• protarsus
  • Syn(s): pro-tarsus, tarsus 1.

  • The fifth segment of the fore leg.

• protibia
  • Syn(s): pro-tibia, tibia 1.

  • The fourth segment of the fore leg.

• protrochanter
  • Syn(s): pro-trochanter, trochanter 1.

  • The second segment of the fore leg.

• ptilinal fissure
  • A curved slit through which the ptilinum, a sac-like organ, is everted to assist the adult escape from its puparium.

• pulvilli
  • A pair of pads under the tarsal claws.

• radial vein
  • Syn(s): radius

  • A main vein found next to the costa. It is branched.

• R
  • Stem of the radial vein.

• r-m
  • Syn(s): anterior crossvein.

  • Crossvein running between the radial and medial veins.

• R1
  • Anterior branch of the radial vein.

• R2+3
  • The second and third posterior branches of the radial vein.

• R4+5
  • The fourth and fifth branches of the radial vein.

• Rs
  • Syn(s): radial sector.

  • Main posterior branch of the radial vein, often itself branched.

• sb
  • Syn(s): subcostal break.

  • Weakening in the costal vein near the subcosta, the third of three breaks. See also hb and cb.

• Sc
  • Syn(s): subcosta, subcostal vein.

  • The first longitudinal vein behind the anterior edge of the wing.

• scape
  • The first antennal segment.

• scutellar setae
  • Syn(s): scutellar bristles.

  • The setae on the scutellum.

• scutellum
  • The third division of the dorsal surface, posterior to the mesonotum.

• scutoscutellar suture
  • Separates the scutellum from the mesonotum

• sex comb
  • A structure found only in the male fly. It is used during mating.

• sternite 2
  • The second ventral plate on the abdomen. Sternite 1 is hidden from view.

• sternite 3
  • The third ventral plate on the abdomen.

• sternite 4
  • The fourth ventral plate on the abdomen.

• sternite 5
  • The fifth ventral plate on the abdomen.

• sternites
  • Syn(s): abdominal sternites.

  • The plates on the ventral surface of the abdomen.

• subalar sclerite
  • Syn(s): infra-alar bulla, subalar knob.

  • A bulbous swelling near the mediodorsal margin of the anepimeron.

• subgena
  • An area on the head below the gena.

• subscutellum
  • Syn(s): postscutellum.

  • Part of the postnotum.

• subvibrissae
  • Syn(s): subvibrissal setae, genal setae, subvibrissal bristles, genal bristles, oral hairs.

  • A row of smaller setae posterior to the larger vibrissae.

• supra-alar setae
  • Syn(s): supra-alar bristles.

  • Setae found anterior to the wing.

• surstylus
  • Pl. surstyli Syn(s): clasper, claspers.

  • A lateral lobe associated with the genital structures.

• tarsal claws
  • A pair of claws on the last tarsal segment of each leg.

• tarsi
  • The fifth segments of the legs.

• tergite 1+2
  • Tergites 1 and 2 are fused

• tergite 3
  • The third dorsal plate on the abdomen.

• tergite 4
  • The fourth dorsal plate on the abdomen.

• tergite 5
  • The fifth dorsal plate on the abdomen.

• tergite 6
  • The sixth dorsal plate on the abdomen.

• tergites
  • Syn(s): abdominal tergites.

  • The plates on the dorsal surface of the abdomen.

• terminalia
  • The terminal portion of the abdomen consisting of modified genital and anal segments.

• thorax
  • The second major division of the insect body. The thorax is further divided into the pro-, meso-, and meta- thorax. Each thoracic segment bears a pair of legs. The mesothorax is greatly enlarged to accommodate the muscles of the fore wing.

• tibiae
• transverse suture
  • Syn(s): mesonotal suture, scutal suture, mesoscutal suture.

  • Divdes the mesonotum into the the presutural and postsutural mesonotum.

• trochanters
  • The second segment of the legs.

• vertex
  • Area on the upper extremity of the head, it includes the ocellar triangle. The vertical setae arise from the vertex. Best seen from the dorsal view.

• vertical setae
  • Syn(s): vertical bristles.

  • Two pairs of setae arising from the vertex. The outer pair is divergent, the inner is convergent. They are significant in fly identification.

• vibrissae
  • Sing. vibrissa Syn(s): first and second oral setae, first and second oral bristles

  • Stout setae located antero-ventrally on the head capsule. These setae are significant in fly identification.

• wings
  • Syn(s): fore wings.

  • The hind wings, know as halters are reduced and highly specialized.

The morphology and terminology in the Atlas is based on McAlpine, (1981), McEvey and Polack, (2005) and the 'Anatomical Atlas of Flies' (Yeates, D. K., Hastings, A. and Hamilton, J. R., 2004).

The images, but in particularly the lateral image of Drosophila melanogaster are composites of many images. These images were made using the BK Plus Lab System from Visionary Digital. Drawings overlay the images.

The images and drawings were created in Adobe Photoshop. The parts were made by converting the relevant pieces of of the drawing into vector graphics using software called 'Vector Magic'.

If you find errors in the content or would like content added to the Atlas please contact us.

Contact Us

David Yeates and Anne Hastings

Linking

To use the Atlas in a web document, link to our website and add a query string with the name of the structure you would like to target. For example if you would like to highlight the halter add '?halter' to the end of the URL without the quotes.

Keyboard shortcuts

1. To move quickly between the pages of the 'Term List' use the left and right arrow keys.

2. To move between the lateral and dorsal views, use the 'greater than' and 'less than' keys without the shift key.

3. Use the '2' key on the keyboard to turn on the zoom lens. Then use the left and right arrow keys to move the zoom lens over the image. Use the '1' key to turn the zoom off.

4. Use the up and down arrow keys to move between the information tabs. This will only work if the zoom lens is turned off.

Shane F. McEvey, Australian Museum, Sydney contributed invaluable taxonomic knowledge.

Dr. Stephen D. Gaimari, California Department of Food and Agriculture supplied detailed feedback on the content as well as on technical and functional issues.

Mr Faisal Younus, Environmental Response Genomics CSIRO, supplied beautiful specimens of Drosophila melanagaster.

Natalie Banks, Australian National Insect Collection skilfully dissected out the Drosophila wing.

Dr Bruce Halliday, Australian National Insect Collection, gave valuable help with referencing and editing.

Dmitry Baranovskiy, creator of the Raphaël JavaScript Library.
Raphaël JavaScript Library

Thinkbi.gr creators of the Ready Set Raphael website that converts the SVG format to the Raphaël format.
Ready Set Raphael website

McAlpine, J. F. (1981). Morphology and terminology — adults. In: McAlpine, J. F. et al. (eds) Manual of Nearctic Diptera, Volume 1. Monograph, Research Branch Agriculture Canada 27, 9–63.

McEvey, S. F. and Polak, M. (2005). Mycodrosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) of Fiji and Vanuatu with description of nine new species. In: Evenhuis, N. L. and Bickel, D. J. (eds) Fiji Arthropods II. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 84, 35–67.

Yeates, D. K., Hastings, A., Hamilton J. R et al (2004). Anatomical Atlas of Flies. Online. CSIRO Entomology and Australian Biological Resources Study

Nichols, S. W. (Ed.) (1989) The Torre-Bueno Glossary of Entomology New York Entomological Society in cooperation with the American Museum of Natural History.