(Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera)

by Brian Pitkin, Willem Ellis, Colin Plant and Rob Edmunds

Spiracles are the major respiratory openings in the exoskeleton of insects. Oxygen, a necessary gas for cell activity, must pass through the spiracle to enter the respiratory system. Fly larvae typically have an anterior and a posterior pair of spiracles.

Acidia cognata
[Diptera: Tephritidae]
Anterior spiracle
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza anthracina
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracles, dorsal
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza demeijerei
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracle
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza ferruginosa
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracles, dorsal
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza flaviceps
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracles, dorsal
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza mobilis
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracles, dorsal
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)
The identification of these larvae has not be confirmed by breeding;
they therefore can just as well be A. nigrella

Agromyza nana
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracle, lateral
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza nana
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracles, dorsal
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza nigrella
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracles, lateral
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)
The identification of these larvae has not be confirmed by breeding;
they therefore can just as well be A. mobilis

Agromyza nigrescens
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracles, dorsal
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)

Agromyza phragmitidis
[Diptera: Agromyzidae]
Anterior spiracle, lateral
Image: © Willem Ellis (Bladmineerders van Europa)