Kinetosomes in Insect Epidermal Cells and Their Orientation with Respect to Cell Symmetry and Intercellular Patterning

Paired flagellar basal bodies or kitnetosomles are described for tarsal, pulvillar, wing, proboscis, ptilinum, and tracheal epithelial cells in the fly Sarcophaga bullata. Evidence suggests that in every diploid epidermal cell their orientation is specific with respect to (i) cell symmetry and cuticular patterning, and (ii) intercellular positioninig and polarity. Microtrichia may be homologous with the flagella of other organisms.