Honeybee Foreleg Under the Microscope
Honeybee Foreleg (Whole Mount), Apis mellifera
This is a honeybee front leg mounted whole and unstained. It is known for the antenna cleaner, a small notch and comb the bee uses to clean its antennae.
This is a whole mount of a honeybee front leg (Apis mellifera). The leg is made of segments joined end to end, covered in hairs and bristles, and it ends in a pair of hooked claws. Near the joint between the tibia and the first foot segment is the antenna cleaner, a round notch lined with a comb of stiff bristles. The bee pulls its antenna through this notch to scrape off pollen and dirt. Comparing this leg with a middle or hind leg shows how one body part can be shaped for different jobs.
What to look for
- Antenna cleaner: A half-circle notch near the joint between the tibia and the first foot segment, lined with a comb of fine bristles.
- Velum: A small flap on the tibia that closes over the notch.
- Basitarsus: The first and largest foot segment, which holds the notch.
- Tarsal segments and claws: Smaller foot segments ending in a pair of claws.
- Hairs: Dense hairs covering the leg, used for grooming.
Questions and answers
What is the antenna cleaner on a honeybee leg?
The antenna cleaner is a round notch on the front leg lined with fine bristles. The bee pulls its antenna through the notch, and the bristles scrape off pollen and dirt so the antenna can sense smells clearly.
How are the three pairs of honeybee legs different?
The front legs carry the antenna cleaner, the middle legs help with walking and moving pollen, and the hind legs of workers carry the pollen basket. Comparing them shows how one body part can be adapted for different jobs.
- Category
- Invertebrates
- Scan magnification
- 20x
- Stain
- Unstained
Viewing this slide in class
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