In order to define the components of variation for wing shape in Drosophila in relation to what is known about the developmental control of wing patterning, we have characterized shape variation in the wings of 12 randomly chosen highly inbred lines. Despite large differences in wing size between males and females, and between flies reared at 18°C or 25°C, wing shape is remarkably unaffected by these variables and is highly line specific. Each compartment of the wing appears to be independently regulated at the genetic level, consistent with the role of secreted growth factors in establishing the locations of wing veins. Sex and temperature were found to have different effects on cell number in two compartments, with the result that wing shape is to a large extent independent of cell density. Dietary cholesterol was also shown to affect the breadth of the central intervein region, consistent with an effect on the strength of Hedgehog signaling during wing development. It is concluded that wing shape is under tighter genetic control than is wing size, and the hypothesis is presented that this control is achieved in large part by gene activity at the level of wing vein determination and differentiation.