Proleg

Proleg

Prolegs are the fleshy, stubby little structures found on the ventral surface of the abdomen of most larval forms of insects of the Order Lepidoptera, though they can also be found on other larval insects such as sawflies and a few types of flies. Prolegs of lepidopteran larvae have a small circle of gripping hooks, called "crochets". The arrangement of the crochets can be helpful in identification to family level. Prolegs are not true legs; they are not jointed, and so lack the five segments (coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus) that true insect legs possess. They have their own musculature, but it is limited, and much of the movement of the prolegs is accomplished via hydraulics.

See also

* Terrestrial locomotion in animals

References

*Peterson, A. 1948. "Larvae Of Insects. Part I: Lepidoptera & Hymenoptera; Part II: Coleoptera, Diptera, Neuroptera, Siphonaptera, Mecoptera, Trichoptera." Columbus, OH.
*Richards, O.W. & R.G. Davies. 1977. "Imm's General Textbook of Entomology", 10th ed. (2 Volumes). Chapman & Hall, London.
*Snodgrass, R.E. 1935 (1993 reprint). "Principles of Insect Morphology". Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.

External links

* [http://www-staff.it.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/faqs/legs.html How Many Legs Do Caterpillars Have?]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Proleg — Pro leg, n. [Pref. pro for, in place of + leg.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of the fleshy legs found on the abdominal segments of the larv[ae] of Lepidoptera, sawflies, and some other insects. Those of Lepidoptera have a circle of hooks. Called also {proped} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • proleg — [prō′leg΄] n. [ PRO 1 + LEG] any of the stubby limbs attached to the abdomen of certain insect larvae …   English World dictionary

  • proleg — noun Date: 1816 a fleshy leg that occurs on an abdominal segment of some insect larvae but not in the adult …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • proleg — /proh leg /, n. one of the abdominal ambulatory processes of caterpillars and other larvae, as distinct from the true or thoracic legs. [1810 20; PRO 1 + LEG] * * * …   Universalium

  • proleg — noun An appendage of the abdomen of some insect larvae, such as caterpillars, which is used like a leg …   Wiktionary

  • pròleg — prò|leg Mot Pla Nom masculí …   Diccionari Català-Català

  • proleg — prəʊleg n. limb of a caterpillar or other larva which resembles a leg …   English contemporary dictionary

  • PROLEG — prolegatus …   Abbreviations in Latin Inscriptions

  • proleg — noun Entomology a fleshy abdominal limb of a caterpillar or similar insect larva …   English new terms dictionary

  • proleg — pro·leg …   English syllables

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”