Proboscis of blowfly. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the proboscis of a blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria, also known as the blue- bottle.

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Proboscis of blowfly. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the proboscis of a blowfly, Calliphora vomitoria, also known as the blue- bottle. The labella (two lobes, coloured grey) are seen, with parallel grooves (pseudotracheae) channelling into a central hollow tube. The proboscis is used for the ingestion of food, and acts like a sponge. Enzymes are exuded from the proboscis onto the food substrate (rotting animal or vegetable matter). These enzymes digest the food, turning it into a pulpy liquid, which is then sucked up by the proboscis. Further digestion takes place within the fly's gut. Magnification: x55 at 5x7cm size. x185 at 10x8ins

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Size: 4913px × 3626px
Photo credit: © POWER AND SYRED/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, blowfly, calliphora, calliphoridae, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, nature, probosci, proboscis, pseudotrachea, vomitaria, wildlife, zoology