mystax
9.9
A row of stiff hairs above a fly's mouth that protect its face
- noun
- Specialized
:
mystax
- Scientists examined the mystax to identify different species of flies.
Examples
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The robber fly's mystax protects its face when capturing prey.
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The fly's mystax helps it sense its environment.
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The dense mystax is a key feature of many predatory insects.
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Many insects have a mystax that aids in protection.
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The mystax serves as a protective feature for certain species of flies.
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Many flies have a mystax that helps shield their mouth from debris.
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Photographers often capture the mystax of flies as a unique characteristic.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Mystax comes from a Greek word meaning 'mustache' or 'upper lip'. Entomologists used the name because the bristle patch above a fly's mouth looks like a little mustache that helps protect the face, so the word reminds you of its protective role.
