HONEY BEE 123 



4. Thoracic Appendages. (a) Wings. Remove the wings 

 from the body and mount on a slide. Study the 

 arrangement of the veins in each wing. With the 

 compound microscope observe the hooks on the an- 

 terior border of the hind wings which attach this to 

 the fore wing. What is there on the fore wing to hold 

 these hooks? 

 Make a drawing of the wings. 



(6) Legs. The legs are composed of five segments as 

 those of the grasshopper, but the basal joint of the 

 tarsus or foot is much enlarged and is sometimes 

 called the metatarsus. The legs of the bee serve not 

 only for locomotion, but also as tools for other com- 

 plex functions. 



1. Prothoracic Leg. Between the tibia and the first 

 tarsal segment is the antenna cleaner; on the outer 

 end of the tibia is a pollen brush, composed of stiff 

 hairs. 



2. Mesothoracic Leg. At the end of the tibia is a long 

 spine, the pollen spur. 



3. Metathoracic Leg. How do the tibia and first tarsal 

 joint compare in size with similar parts of the other 

 legs? The outer surface of the tibia is hollowed 

 out to form the pollen basket; the inner surface of 

 the first tarsal joint is covered with rows of stiff 

 spines, the pollen combs. Between the tibia and 

 the first tarsal joint are the so-called wax shears, 

 which, however, are used in gathering pollen and 

 have nothing to do with wax manipulation. 



Compare these adaptive specializations of the legs of the 

 worker with the legs of the drone, and note what differences 

 occur. Is it possible to explain these differences? 



Remove each of the legs from the body, study with a 



