Proboscis

A proboscis is an elongated feeding tube attached to the head of an animal. The most well known example of a proboscis in insects is the feeding tube used by adult butterflies and moths. The proboscis is a tube made by the elongated maxillae of the butterfly, these are u-shaped and held together with hooks to form a tube.

Proboscis may also be used to describe the elongated mouthparts of flies and weevils etc.

A photograph of a Peacock butterfly showing the curled proboscis.
Photograph by Ian Dury licensed under Creative Commons.

Related terms

• Head
• Lepidoptera
• Maxilla
• Puddling

Related groups of terms

• Invertebrate body structure

Related pages on this web site

• Insect mouthparts

See other words beginning with P