Fly mouthparts, light micrograph
Fly mouthparts. Light micrograph of the mouthparts (the palps and proboscis) of a house fly (Musca domestica), seen from below. The maxillary palps are the two structures at centre right and centre left. The proboscis extends outwards from the fly between the palps, ending in two spongy pads called the labella (upper frame, yellow). These have pseudo-tracheae that channel saliva to dissolve the fly's food. The resulting liquid food is sucked back up through the labella.
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