Skip to main content

Spiracles

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
  • 63 Accesses

This term describes the openings of the tracheal systems of insects to the body surface. The shape of the posterior spiracles of fly maggots may be used for species determination (Fig. 1).

Spiracles, Fig. 1
figure 19134 figure 19134

Diagrammatic representation of the posterior spiracles of some important flies with their species-specific slits through which air may enter

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   1,399.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   1,799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heinz Mehlhorn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Mehlhorn, H. (2016). Spiracles. In: Mehlhorn, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Parasitology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-43978-4_2941

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics