Mesoscutellum
- Pronunciation
- /mes-oh-SKOO-tel-um/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Mesoscutellum
- Plural
- Mesoscutella
Definition
A sclerite located on the posterior margin of the mesonotum in some insects, often important in distinguishing species.
Etymology
From Greek 'meso-', meaning 'middle', and Latin 'scutellum', meaning 'small shield'.
Example
The mesoscutellum is often used to distinguish species of certain insect families.
Related Terms
Usage Notes
The presence and shape of the mesoscutellum can be useful for taxonomic identification.