Diptera.info

commensalistic

header=[commensalism] body=[From the Latin com mensa, meaning 'sharing a table'. In ecology, commensalism is an interaction between two living organisms, where one organism (the commensal) benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped. As with all ecological interactions, commensalisms vary in strength and duration from intimate, long-lived symbioses to brief, weak interactions through intermediaries. An example in literature: Landau, G.D., & M.J. Gaylor, 1987. Observations on commensal Diptera (Milichiidae and Chloropidae) associated with spiders in Alabama. - Journal of Arachnology 15(2): 270-272.<br /><img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

Comstock-Needham system

This is a system for naming veins in insect wing, that was devised by John Comstock and George Needham in 1898. The system supposedly shows the homology of all insect wings.
Links: http://en.wikiped...ham_system.

confer.

cf. (synonym)

cryptic species

A species that satisfies one major criterion of the scientific definition of species - it is reproductively isolated from others - but which is morphologically indistinguishable from one or more others. The group of those indistinguishable species together form a cryptic species complex. The individual species within the complex can only be separated using special techniques, like molecular genetics such as DNA barcoding.
Links: A cryptic species complex in the ant parasitoid Apocephalus paraponerae (Diptera: Phoridae).

cuticle

The external skeletal structure of the insect body (dissection reveals an internal skeleton). The cuticle is secreted by the epidermis and is composed of chitin header=[chitin] body=[The colourless polysaccharide that is the major component of the insect cuticle or integument. 
Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin. <img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

and protein. There are several differentiated layers.

Cyclorrhapha

Cyclorrhapha is an unranked taxon within the infraorder Muscomorpha. They are called Cyclorrhapha ('circular-seamed flies') with reference to the circular aperture through which the adult escapes the puparium. This is a circumscriptional name that has significant historical familiarity. In most classifications, this name is synonymous with the more recent 'Muscomorpha'.

DAISY

Acronym for Digital Automated Identification System. An image analysis system so far applied, in Diptera, only to Ceratopogonidae.
Links: http://www.fao.or.../3-001.pdf

dorsocentral setae (synonym)

diagnostic character

A character that is common to (virtually) all members of a group and that in itself, or in combination with other diagnostic characters, is unique to that group. For example: empodia pulviliform; branches of R crowded on costal margin; wing often with fine longitudinal wrinkles are all diagnostic characters for the taxon Stratiomyidae. Compare with differential character

header=[differential character] body=[A character which separates one group from another. For example: hind tibiae with distinct long anteroventral bristles is a differential character between the hybotid (sub)genera Elaphropeza and Drapetis; present in Elaphropeza and absent in Drapetis. Compare with diagnostic character.<br />
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diapause

A suspension (temporary halt) of development that can occur at the egg, larval, pupal, or adult stage, depending on the species. In some species, diapause is facultative, occuring only when induced by environmental conditions; in other species the diapause period is an obligatory part of the life cycle.
Links:Institute of Ecophysiology Home page;
Page on diapause from the Institute of Ecophysiology, Branisovska, Czech Republic.

differential character

A character which separates one group from another. For example: hind tibiae with distinct long anteroventral bristles is a differential character between the hybotid (sub)genera Elaphropeza and Drapetis; present in Elaphropeza and absent in Drapetis. Compare with diagnostic character

header=[diagnostic character] body=[A character that is common to (virtually) all members of a group and that in itself, or in combination with other diagnostic characters, is unique to that group. For example: empodia pulviliform; branches of R crowded on costal margin; wing often with fine longitudinal wrinkles are all diagnostic characters for the taxon Stratiomyidae. Compare with differential character.<br />
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dipterist

Student of Diptera.
Links: http://en.wikiped...Dipterists.

disticalypter

upper calypter (synonym)

dorsal

1. Located on the dorsum. For legs this means that these are considered as if they were in the position as given in the illustration. So, even if a leg is pointing upwards in a specimen, one should image that the leg was positioned in a horizontal plane, perpendicular to the body axis.

2. Located in a more position towards the dorsum. For example, a seta

header=[seta] body=[Plural: setae. Structure on the surface of the insect body, often referred to as hairs or bristles. A seta may easily be lost but has a prominent socket (alveolus) which is raised on one side if the seta is slanted. Setae are usually connected to nerves and have a sensory function.<br /><img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

can be located dorsal to another seta.

Opposite: ventral

header=[ventral] body=[1. Located on the venter. For legs this means that these are considered as if they were in the position as given in the illustration. So, even if a leg is pointing upwards in a specimen, one should image that the leg was positioned in a horizontal plane, perpendicular to the body axis.<br />
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2. Located in a more position towards the venter. For example, a seta can be located ventral to another seta.<br />
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Opposite: dorsal.<br /><img src='http://www.diptera.info/images/orientation.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

dorsocentral setae

Setae placed lateral of the median area of the mesonotum

header=[mesonotum] body=[The thorax is composed of three basic segments of which the second (mesothorax is the largest. The mesonotum is the dorsal part of the mesothorax and it constitutes most of the dorsal part of the thorax. It is composed of the prescutum (not differentiated in most Diptera, except for some Nematocera), the scutum and the scutellum.<br />
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Image courtesy of Japan Drosophila Database (http://www.dgrc.kit.ac.jp/~jdd/bodyparts/index.html)<br /><img src='http://www.diptera.info/infusions/terms/images/mesonotum.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

; meaning that they are placed lateral of the acrostichal setae header=[acrostichal setae] body=[One or more longitudinal rows of smaller to larger setae in the median part of the scutum, the rows being either regular or irregular (with setae more or less scattered). <img src='http://www.diptera.info/infusions/terms/images/acrostichals.jpg' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

header=[acrostichal setae] body=[One or more longitudinal rows of smaller to larger setae in the median part of the scutum, the rows being either regular or irregular (with setae more or less scattered).<br /><img src='http://www.diptera.info/infusions/terms/images/acrostichals.jpg' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

(if these latter are present). If the mesonotum is completely covered with smaller and larger setae, then dorsocentral setae should be distinguishable by their larger size compared to the immediate surrounding setae. Dorsocentral setae may be pre-sutural (in front of the suture) or post-sutural (behind the suture).

dorsocentral setae

One or more longitudinal, paramedian header=[paramedian] body=[On each side of the middle but not in the middle; lateral of a median strip. <img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

header=[paramedian] body=[On each side of the middle but not in the middle; lateral of a median strip.<br /><img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

rows of setae on the scutum. Sometimes the 'rows' consists of a single setae, which it then most often placed close to the posterior margin of the scutum. In several groups the number, size and position of dorsocentral setae is of diagnostic importance, for example the number of presutural and postsutural dorsocentral setae (given as a formula like 0+2 or 1+4 for the presutral and postsutural dorsocentral setae).

dorsocentrals

dorsocentral setae (synonym)

dorsocentrals

dorsocentral setae (synonym)

dorsum

The side if the fly that we would indicate as 'the back' in human terms. In practice this means the side where the wings are placed (or would have been placed if the insect is apterous header=[apterous] body=[Without wings, wingless. See aptery. <img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

header=[apterous] body=[Without wings, wingless. See aptery.<br /><img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

).
Adjective: dorsal

header=[dorsal] body=[1. Located on the dorsum. For legs this means that these are considered as if they were in the position as given in the illustration. So, even if a leg is pointing upwards in a specimen, one should image that the leg was positioned in a horizontal plane, perpendicular to the body axis.<br />
<br />
2. Located in a more position towards the dorsum. For example, a seta can be located dorsal to another seta.<br />
<br />
Opposite: ventral.<br /><img src='http://www.diptera.info/images/orientation.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

.
Opposite: venter header=[venter] body=[The side of the fly that we would indicate as 'the belly' in human terms. On practice this means the side where the mouth is positioned an where the legs are placed. 
Adjective: ventral. 
Opposite: dorsum. <img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

header=[venter] body=[The side of the fly that we would indicate as 'the belly' in human terms. On practice this means the side where the mouth is positioned an where the legs are placed.<br />
Adjective: ventral.<br />
Opposite: dorsum.<br /><img src='../../infusions//terms/images/no_image.gif' style='vertical-align:middle;' />] delay=[0] fade=[on]

double-headed bug

love bug (synonym)

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