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

Register · Log In
HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp
Clickable Guide
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

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

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29


Previous events
TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Glossary » T » thorax, thoracic

thorax, thoracic

Classification · Explanation of Names · Identification · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Insect Anatomy Parts of a Caterpillar Spider Anatomy
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
No Taxon (Glossary)
No Taxon (T)
No Taxon thorax, thoracic
Explanation of Names
From Greek thorax, chest, breastplate.
Identification
thorax noun, adjective thoracic - that part of the body between the head and the abdomen in an insect, the second of the three main divisions.
The primary role of the thorax in insect physiology is movement--the legs and wings are attached on this part of the body.
The three divisions of the thorax are the prothorax (front), the mesothorax (middle), and the metathorax (rear).
See Also
Divisons of the insect body:
head
thorax
abdomen

Divisions of thorax (front | middle | rear):
prothorax | mesothorax | metathorax

Dorsal surface of thorax (notum):
pronotum | mesonotum | metanotum

Lateral (pleural) surface of thorax:
propleuron | mesopleuron | metapleuron

Ventral surface of thorax:
prosternum | mesosternum | metasternum
Print References
Gordh, A Dictionary of Entomology, p. 923 (1)
Internet References
Jardine's Dictionary of Entomology
Wikipedia: Thorax, Prothorax, Mesothorax, Metathorax
Works Cited
1.A Dictionary of Entomology
George Gordh, David H. Headrick. 2003. CABI Publishing.
Contributed by Cotinis on 22 May, 2007 - 8:38pm
Additional contributions by Tony-2
Last updated 2 March, 2021 - 8:44am

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