The pattern of campaniform sensilla on the wing and haltere of Drosophila melanogaster and several of its homeotic mutants

Abstract

A detailed mapping and description of campaniform sensilla on the wing and haltere of Drosophila melanogaster is provided. Six types of sensilla are distinguished. Similarities in the pattern of their distribution on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of each appendage, as well as between the wing and haltere, are apparent. These data are used to assess the quality of homeotic transformation in several mutants of the bithorax complex in which the halteres are transformed into wings. Flies homozygous for abxbx3pbx produce a complete inventory of wing sensilla on the homeotic appendage. In abx, bx3 and bx3pbx homozygotes the transformation of haltere into wing is incomplete, and each mutant shows characteristic fields of haltere and wing sensilla. It appears that specific regions of the anterior haltere compartment require different combinations of mutant alleles to produce a distinct homeotic transformation. Furthermore, the pbx mutation appears to influence expression of the bx3 mutation within the anterior compartment.