Pusher

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Pigeon tail caterpillar ( Macroglossum stellatarum ). The first three pairs of sternum bones in front (right), the four pairs of belly bones in the middle and the bulging pusher at the end of the abdomen are clearly visible

The pygopodium pair (pygopodium; plural: pygopodia) is the pair of ventral feet of various insect larvae, especially caterpillars , located on the 10th and last segment of the abdomen . They are also found, for example, in the larvae of the dark mosquitoes (Thaumaleidae) and midges (Chironomidae) from the order of the two-winged species (Diptera) and the plant wasps (Symphyta) from the order of the hymenoptera (Hymenoptera).

The pushers belong to the abdomen or anal feet. They are usually built much stronger and are used to move the animals. They support the other legs by "pushing" the body from behind. The follower can be changed to a fork tail in some butterfly species. This serves z. B. the big fork tail ( Cerura vinula ) to deter predators.

literature

  • Keywords "Nachschieber" and "Analfuß" in: Herder-Lexikon der Biologie. Spectrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg 2003. ISBN 3-8274-0354-5