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Anatomy of Miniature Brachycera (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae, Ephydridae)

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Abstract

Miniaturization can strongly affect the structure of insects, and both common and unique features have been found in different groups. However, there have been no previous studies focused on the anatomy of miniature Brachycera. In this work, the internal structure of the adults of two miniature Brachycera, Leptocera sp. (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae) and Hydrellia albilabris (Meigen, 1830) (Diptera, Ephydridae) was studied for the first time using series of histological sections and computerized 3D reconstructions. Despite the small size of these miniature flies, all their organ systems retain a complex level of organization characteristic of larger representatives of related taxa. Even the tracheal system shows no essential simplification, even though it was revealed earlier in most miniature insects. A comparative analysis of changes in the relative volumes of organ systems has been carried out. The general trends of organ allometry identified earlier have been shown to be also valid for miniature Diptera; however, the reproductive systems of Leptocera sp. and Hydrellia albilabris occupy a much smaller relative volume than that of miniature insects from other orders.

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Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project 19-14-00045).

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  1. Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia

    E. N. Veko & A. A. Polilov

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  1. E. N. Veko
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Correspondence to E. N. Veko.

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Statement on the welfare of animals. All the applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All the procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution or practice at which the studies were conducted.

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Veko, E.N., Polilov, A.A. Anatomy of Miniature Brachycera (Diptera, Sphaeroceridae, Ephydridae). Entmol. Rev. 102, 602–620 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873822050050

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