haltere
/halˈtɪə
/noun (usually halteres) Entomology
The balancing organ of a two-winged fly, seen as either of a pair of knobbed filaments that take the place of the hindwings, vibrating during flight.There are imaginal discs for each of the six legs, two wings, and the two halteres (balancing organs), and for the genital apparatus, eyes, antennae, and other adult head structures....
- During flight, the halteres beat in precise anti-phase with the forewings, thereby activating several hundred specialized mechanosensory cells at the base of the structures.
- The reduced remnants of the second pair of wings are known as halteres, and seem to function as stabilizers or as airspeed detectors.
Origin
Mid 16th century (originally plural, denoting a pair of weights like dumb-bells held in the hands to give impetus when jumping): from Greek haltēres (plural), from hallesthai 'to leap'.