MOTH ANATOMY

Below is a generic sketch

of the basic external anatomy of a moth

    1.  Head.

    2.  Compound eye.

    3.  Proboscis - Or tongue remains coiled up until it feeds at which time it is extended and used like a straw.

    4.  Labial Palp.

    5.  Fore leg - One of three pair. All are made up of four sections. From the thorax: the coxa, femur, tibia and tarsus which in itself is made up of five segments and is essentially the foot and possesses the moths ability to taste.

    6.  Middle leg.- At the tarsus end of the tibia are the tibial spurs.

    7.  Thorax - Contains wing and leg muscles. Made up of three sections; the prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax. The prothorax supports the fore legs, the mesothorax supports the fore wing and middle leg and the metathorax supports the hind wing  and hind leg as well as containing the tympana or "ears".

    8.  Hind leg.

    9.  Antennae - Used to smell.

    10. Abdomen - Made up of 10 sections containing vital organs for breathing, digestion and reproduction.

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