1887 



(JLEA^t'l^US IJN HEK (iULi'UHE. 



S47 



THE ANATOMY OF THE HONEY-BEE. 



ANTERIOR LEGS OF BKKS. 



TKrEXT to the posterior legs, the anterior are 

 10 most interesting objects of study. The first 



?l^ three joints of these legs (see Fig. 1) are not 



■*■ ^ essentially different from the same in the 



posterior legs. The compound hairs are 



abundant, and, as seen in the microscope, are very 



beautiful. The tibia is not modified, as seen in the 



posterior legs, but has a strangely modified tibial 



spur. Fig. 3. This reseint)les a short-handled knife. 



The part answering to the blade is strengthened 



at the base by a sort of knob; it is wide and blunt 



at the end, with a projecting point at the back. The 



inner part of this blade consists of a soft membrane, 



just such as we sliould like to use as a 



duster. This modified tibial spur is 



found in all hymenoptera, though it is 



greatly varied in;^. different families 



and genei-a, and maj- be wisely used 



in classification. Thus in Nomada the 



membraneous blade is quite distinct 



from the back portion of the spur, 



which is continued in a long spinous 



Just opposite of this tibial spur in the worker- 

 bee, on what might be called the elbow of the tibia, 

 is a most delicate brush. Fig. 1, just such as the bee 

 could use ver.v conveniently and efl'ectually as an 

 eye-brush. 



The basal tarsus is also broadened in the anterior 

 leg, and contains a heinicy Under at its base which 

 is smooth on its inner surface, but contains on its 

 outer margin some seventy or eighty teeth, or 

 spine-like hairs, much the same as those seen on 

 the blade of the tibial spur of the sphex wasps. 

 This comb-like cavity is exactly covered by the 

 blade of the spur when the joints are placed 

 the one upon the other. Thus we have in this ex- 

 quisite apparatus the antenna-brush, or cleaner. 

 It is found in the drone and queen, as well as in the 

 workers. The cavity is found in all bees and 



Fig. 2. 



THE KKONT liEG OK A BEE, WITH 



point. In two families of wasps, Sphegidce and 

 PnmpilidtT, the edge of the blade is fringed with a 

 beautiful delicate brush, and in Sphir the end is 

 deeply notched, so there are two points, between 

 which are several flnger-like projections. In the 

 ants there is a double row of this exquisite fringe, 

 making a brush that is most beautiful, and the 

 blade extends in a graceful curve to a beautifully 

 fringed point. The membraneous blade is seen, 

 even in saw-llies, which are among the lowest of 

 this most interesting order of insects. 



Fi{j. 1. 



ENL,.\RGED VIEW ON THE LEFT. 



wasps, and in all hymenoptera, if we except the 

 lower families. In^'the gall-flies, cynii)s, saw-flies, 

 and some others, the cavity is not even suggested, 

 though, as before stated, the membraneous bladelin 

 the saw-fiies shows that the arrangement is not 

 wholly obsolete in these insects. 



The function of this curious apparatus as aa an- 

 tenna-cleaner is easilj- determined. We have only 

 to take a l)ee or wasp by the wings, and dust its an- 

 tennas with chalk or flour, and then put it on the 

 window of our room, when it will be^observed to 



