Oral vibrissae

Definition

Sensory hairs located around the mouth of some insects, used to detect food and other stimuli.

Etymology

From Latin 'vibra', meaning 'to tremble' or 'shake', and 'vibrissae', meaning 'whiskers'.

Example

The oral vibrissae of a housefly are used to sense the presence of food particles.

Related Terms

• Sensory hairs
• Chemoreception
• Mouthparts

Usage Notes

Oral vibrissae can be found in various insect orders, including Diptera and Coleoptera.