Types of Wing Venation in Insects

Basic Vein Identification

• Basic identification of individual wing veins via the Comstock-Needham System includes veins being labeled as costa, precosta, subcosta, radius, media, cubitus, anal veins and jugal. Supplemental number and letter coding is also used to highlight additional vein details.

Costa, Precosta and Subcosta

• Costa is the vein situated at the leading edge of the insect's wings. It is unbranched, marginal and strong, extending to the wing's apex. Precoasta is the vein that merges with costa and is many times unrecognizable. Subcosta is the second longitudinal vein. It is also associated as subcosta posterior sector. Subcosta is fused with the radius vein on the wings of most members within the insect group Hemiptera.

Radius, Media and Cubitus

• Radius is the third vein that has up to five branches, usually covering the largest region of the wing apex. Radius is the strongest vein on an insect's wing. Media is the fourth longitudinal vein and has up to four branches. Cubitus is the fifth longitudinal vein and has up to three branches.

Anal Veins and Jugal

• Anal veins are unbranched veins that are situated behind the cubitus, sometimes separated by the anal fold. Jugal represents small veins in the jugal region. Jugal is only found on the wings of members of the insect group Neoptera.

Insect Identification

• When identifying an insect by wing venation, individual vein configurations are analyzed. Examples of generalized vein configuration analysis include those for a cicada and grasshopper.

Cicada

• The hindwings and forewing of cicadas are membrane-like, with a wing venation that includes: costa being situated at the leading wing marginal. At the forewing, costa is extended to the node and is found close to subcosta and radius, which merge to the node. Media branches to form M1 to M4.

Grasshopper

• The forewings of a grasshopper are tough and opaque, while its hind wings are membranous. Its wing venation occurs such that costa is unbranched at the leading marginal of the hind and forewings. Radius branches in the hind and forewing.