Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
 

Clickable Guide

Interactive image map to choose major taxa Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

Upcoming Events

National Moth Week was July 19-27, and the Summer 2025 gathering in Louisiana, July 19-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2024

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

proboscis, proboscises, proboscides

Representative Images

Fly proboscis

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
No Taxon (Glossary)
No Taxon (P)
No Taxon proboscis, proboscises, proboscides

Pronunciation

pro-BOSS-iss

Explanation of Names

From Greek proboskis, trunk (as of an elephant) (1). That word from roots pro, before and boskein to feed (Wikipedia).

Identification

proboscis noun, plural proboscises or proboscides - a modified mouthpart used for siphoning liquids. When present in flies (diptera), it is a modified labium. In butterflies and moths (lepidoptera), and some other groups, it is a modification of the maxillae.

Photos showing insects with a prominent proboscis:

See Also

mouthparts
maxilla
labium

Print References

Gordh, A Dictionary of Entomology, p. 734 (1)

Internet References

Mouthparts and Moving--Gary Brewer, North Dakota State University (excellent illustrations and descriptions)
Wikipedia
Wiktionary

Works Cited

1.A Dictionary of Entomology
George Gordh, David H. Headrick. 2003. CABI Publishing.
Contributed by Cotinis on 19 May, 2007 - 3:31am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset
Last updated 12 September, 2017 - 7:05pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2025 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University logo

Printer Friendly Version 		Terms of Use
Privacy Statement
Site Map
Contact