Calypter

A calypter is either of two posterior lobes of the posterior margin of the forewing of flies between the extreme posterior wing base and the alula, which covers the halteres.

A Tachina sp. fly showing white calypters at the base of the wings

Calypter of a Tachinid

The lower calypter is the proximal calypter (synonyms: squama (of some authors), tegula ) and the upper calypter is the distal calypter (synonym: squamula).

Species of the subsection Acalyptratae are noted for lacking calypters.

References

• James Francis McAlpine. Morphology and Terminology - Adults. In: J.F. McAlpine, B.V. Peterson, G.E. Shewell, H.J. Teskey, J.R. Vockeroth, D.M. Wood (a cura di) Manual of Nearctic Diptera, Volume 1. Research Branch, Agriculture Canada, Monograph 27, 1981: 9-64. ISBN 0-660-10731-7. (In inglese).
• Bernhard Merz, Jean-Paul Haenni. Morphology and terminology of adult Diptera (other than terminalia). In: László Papp, Béla Darvas (a cura di) Manual of Palaearctic Diptera. Volume 1: General and Applied Dipterology. Budapest, Science Herald, 2000: 22–51. ISBN 963-04-8839-6. (In inglese).
• Ermenegildo Tremblay. Entomologia applicata. Volume III Parte I. 1ª ed. Napoli, Liguori Editore, 1991. ISBN 88-207-2021-3.