A proleg is a small, fleshy, stub structure found on the ventral surface of the abdomen of most larval forms of insects of the orderLepidoptera, though they can also be found on larvae of insects such as sawflies. In all the orders in which they appear, mainly Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera, prolegs of any form evolved independently of each other by convergent evolution.[1] They appear to have evolved from ancient inactive genes that have since been activated again.[2]
J: medial prolegs K: anal proleg (F, G, and H: true legs)Lepidoptera: Papilio machaon caterpillar with 4 pairs of medial prolegs and a pair of anal prolegsHymenoptera: Craesus septentrionalis caterpillars with 7 pairs of prolegs
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.[3] Although the point has been debated, prolegs are not widely regarded as true legs, derived from the primitive uniramous limbs. Certainly in their morphology they are not jointed, and so lack the five segments (coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus) of thoracic insect legs. Prolegs do have limited musculature, but much of their movement is hydraulically powered.
^Suzuki, Y.; Palopoli, M. (2001). "Evolution of insect abdominal appendages: Are prolegs homologous or convergent traits?". Development Genes and Evolution. 211 (10): 486–492. doi:10.1007/s00427-001-0182-3. PMID 11702198. S2CID 1163446.
^Lepidopteran prolegs are novel traits, not leg homologs
^Richards, O. W.; Davies, R.G. (1977). Imms' General Textbook of Entomology: Volume 1: Structure, Physiology and Development Volume 2: Classification and Biology. Berlin: Springer. ISBN0-412-61390-5.
^Stefan von Kéler: Entomologisches Wörterbuch. Akademie-Verlag Berlin 1963. p. 80.
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.
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proleg, proleg, small, fleshy, stub, structure, found, ventral, surface, abdomen, most, larval, forms, insects, order, lepidoptera, though, they, also, found, larvae, insects, such, sawflies, orders, which, they, appear, mainly, hymenoptera, lepidoptera, prole. A proleg is a small fleshy stub structure 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 larvae of insects such as sawflies In all the orders in which they appear mainly Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera prolegs of any form evolved independently of each other by convergent evolution 1 They appear to have evolved from ancient inactive genes that have since been activated again 2 J medial prolegsK anal proleg F G and H true legs Lepidoptera Papilio machaon caterpillar with 4 pairs of medial prolegs and a pair of anal prolegsHymenoptera Craesus septentrionalis caterpillars with 7 pairs of prolegsProlegs 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 3 Although the point has been debated prolegs are not widely regarded as true legs derived from the primitive uniramous limbs Certainly in their morphology they are not jointed and so lack the five segments coxa trochanter femur tibia tarsus of thoracic insect legs Prolegs do have limited musculature but much of their movement is hydraulically powered Contents 1 Number of prolegs for various insect larvae 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksNumber of prolegs for various insect larvae editNumber of prolegs on insect larvae at abdominal segments A1 A9 10 S4 12 13 T1 3 thorax segments with 6 legs 4 Larvae of Group Family Order A1 S4 A2 S5 A3 S6 A4 S7 A5 S8 A6 S9 A7 S10 A8 S11 A9 10 S12 13 anal prolegpygopodium legstotalincl T1 3Butterflies Moths many Lepidoptera 2 2 2 2 2 16Archaic moths Micropterygidae Lepidoptera 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 24Owlet moths Noctuidae some Lepidoptera 2 2 2 2 14Owlet moths Noctuidae some Lepidoptera 2 2 2 12Geometer moths Geometridae Lepidoptera 2 2 10Sawflies Symphyta many Hymenoptera 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 22Sawflies Symphyta some Hymenoptera 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20Sawflies Symphyta some Hymenoptera 2 2 2 2 2 2 18some Pamphiliidae Pamphiliinae Hymenoptera 2 8Mecoptera all Mecoptera 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 24Caddisflies all Trichoptera 2 8See also editTerrestrial locomotion in animalsReferences edit Suzuki Y Palopoli M 2001 Evolution of insect abdominal appendages Are prolegs homologous or convergent traits Development Genes and Evolution 211 10 486 492 doi 10 1007 s00427 001 0182 3 PMID 11702198 S2CID 1163446 Lepidopteran prolegs are novel traits not leg homologs Richards O W Davies R G 1977 Imms General Textbook of Entomology Volume 1 Structure Physiology and Development Volume 2 Classification and Biology Berlin Springer ISBN 0 412 61390 5 Stefan von Keler Entomologisches Worterbuch Akademie Verlag Berlin 1963 p 80 Peterson A 1948 Larvae Of Insects Part I Lepidoptera amp Hymenoptera Part II Coleoptera Diptera Neuroptera Siphonaptera Mecoptera Trichoptera Columbus OH Richards O W amp R G Davies 1977 Imm s General Textbook of Entomology 10th ed 2 Volumes Chapman amp Hall London Snodgrass R E 1935 1993 reprint Principles of Insect Morphology Cornell University Press Ithaca NY External links edit nbsp Look up proleg in Wiktionary the free dictionary How Many Legs Do Caterpillars Have nbsp This insect anatomy related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Proleg amp oldid 1197332466, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
