Definition:
Paired parts of terminalia anterior to postgonites and connected to hypandrium anteriorly. (Cumming, Sinclair & Wood 1995)
Character evolution:
In the stem-species pattern of the Chloropidae, Acartophthalmidae and Carnidae, pregonites as well as postgonites are present.
An apomorphy for the Milichiidae is the absence of postgonites (Griffiths 1972), so that the base of the phallus is enveloped by the pregonites. The pregonites are fused with the hypandrium and have from three to many setulae. (ex Brake 2000)
Explanation:
Pregonites probably evolved from gonopods, but were newly formed within the Schizophora.
Glossary: