title: Mouthparts of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae).
abstract: Mouthparts of adult Megaselia scalaris (Loew), a fly species of medical importance, were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Sexual dimorphism of the labellum was observed in the mouthpart structures of this species. The labella of males were clothed with a dense covering of microtrichia, but these were found to be entirely absent from the labella of females. Aside from this difference, trichoid and conical sensilla that are most likely used as taste or contact chemoreceptors appear on the labellum and labrum of both sexes. In addition, five pairs of sharply pointed teeth at the ventral surface of the labellum is another feature that is shared by the two sexes. A plausible feeding mechanism for this fly is also advanced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. ksukonta@mail.med.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Kom
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sukontason
authors.forename: Kabkaew L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sukontason
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piangjai
authors.forename: Noppawan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boonchu
authors.forename: Tarinee
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaiwong
authors.forename: Roy C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Vogtsberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009055:Mouth / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012727:Sex Characteristics