Arista (insect anatomy)

In insect anatomy, the arista is a simple or variously modified apical or subapical bristle, arising from the third antennal segment.

[1] The presence of an arista is a feature of the Diptera (flies) suborder Brachycera and may be especially well-developed in some species.

[2] It is also present in some members of Hemiptera (true bugs), specifically in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha.

[3] The arista is often covered in multiple kinds of sensilla, or sense organs, such as chemo, hygro, and thermoreceptors, which allow the insects to detect changes in their environment.

[4] [1][2] This article related to members of the fly suborder Brachycera is a stub.