Hausellate mouthparts
Haustellate means that the mouthparts of an insect are modified for
sucking. Haustellate mouthparts are usually in the form of some sort
of tube called a beak or rostrum. Depending on the food that an insect
feeds on, other modifications are present. For instance, many insects'
mouthparts have a sharp part of the beak which allows them to peirce their
food source. This may be for skin (as with mosiquitos) or plant derma
(as with cicadas). Other insects, such as lepidoptera (butterflies),
simply have tubes through which they suck nectar from flowers. There
is no piercing action, simply siphoning of the liquid.
Opisthognathous means that the mouthparts are directed backward, under
the insects body. Pictured here is a giant waterbug (hemiptera) which
exhibits these types of mouthparts.