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Abstract:
Pretarsal attachment structures of representatives of themegadiverseDiptera
are examined and documented, mainly using scanning electron microscopy. The focus
is on the basal ‘nematoceran’ lineages. The diversity in structures is much higher than
suggested by brief summarizing accounts in earlier studies. Both hairy and smooth
attachment structures occur. A well-developed, pad-like empodium with its ventral
surface covered with adhesive hairs is arguably a groundplan feature of Diptera. Very
often this pad is combined with the presence of hairy pulvilli. However, smooth pulvilli
occur in two of the examined groups. A smooth arolium is present in Tipulomorpha
and likely an autapomorphy of this clade, suggesting that it was acquired secondarily.
Evolutionary transformations are interpreted based on recently published dipteran
phylogenies.
