Insect Morphological Diversification Through the Modification of Wing Serial Homologs

Abstract

A Wing by Another Name? Wings and their derivatives on the second and third thoracic segments represent the only known dorsal appendages in modern insects; however, the existence of wing homologs in non-winged segments has been suggested from fossil insects. Ohde et al. (p. 495 , published online 14 March) identify part of the body wall on the first thoracic segment and pupal dorsolateral outgrowths as modified pairs of wings in the mealworm beetle. These organs could be transformed into wings and thus share the central wing developmental mechanism.