PHYLUM ARTHROPODA. INSECTS 



245 



legs possess two useful structures, the pollen 

 brush and the antenna cleaner. The femur 

 and the tibia are clothed with branched 

 hairs for gathering pollen. The surface of 

 the first tarsal joint is covered with bristles, 

 constituting a cylindrical pollen brush which 

 is used to brush up and collect pollen within 

 reach of these legs. On the anterior edge of 

 the tibia is a flattened movable spine, the 

 velum, which fits over a curved indentation 

 in the proximal tarsal segment. This entire 

 structure is called the antenna cleaner, and 

 the row of teeth which lines the indentation 

 is known as the antenna comb. The last 



tarsal joint of every leg bears a pair of 

 notched claws which enable the bee to ob- 

 tain a foothold on rough surfaces. Between 

 the claws is a fleshy glandular lobe, the 

 pulvillus; its sticky secretion makes it pos- 

 sible for the bee to cling to smooth objects. 

 Tactile hairs are also present. 



The middle or mcsothoracic legs are pro- 

 vided with a pollen brush, but instead of an 

 antenna cleaner, a spur is present at the 

 distal end of the tibia. This spur is used to 

 dislodge wax from the wax pockets on the 

 ventral side of the abdomen and to remove 

 pollen from the pollen basket. 



Leg segments: 



C =Coxa 

 Tr =Trochanter 

 F =Femur 

 Ti =Tibia 

 Ta = Tarsus 



Fore- and hindwings 

 hooked together 



Antenna deaner (comb 

 and velum) in use 



Antenna comb ' 



Pollen brush 



Prothoracic legs 



Mesothoracic legs 



Metathoracic legs 



Figure 144. Bee adaptations. Legs of the honey bee worker showing many of the structural 

 modifications adapting them for gathering pollen, manipulating wax, cleaning the antennae, 

 and other functions. 



