THE HONEYBEE AND BEES IN GENERAL 



237 



is a flattened movable spine, the velum (v in C and E) which fits 

 over a curved indentation in the first tarsal joint or metatarsus 

 (p in C). This entire structure is called the antenna cleaner and 

 the row of teeth (F) which lines the indentation is known as the 

 antenna comb. Figure 131, H, shows in section how the antenna 

 (a) is cleaned by being pulled between the teeth (c) on the meta- 

 tarsus (/) and the edge (s) of 

 the velum (v). On the front of 

 the metatarsus is a row of spines 

 (eb. in C) called the eye brush, 

 which is used to brush out any 

 pollen or foreign particles lodged 

 among the hairs on the com- 

 pound eyes. The last tarsal joint 

 of every leg (Fig. 132) bears a 

 pair of notched claws (an.) which 

 enable the bee to obtain a foot- 

 hold on rough surfaces. Between 

 the claws is a fleshy glandular 

 lobule, the pulvillus (pv.) whose 

 sticky secretion makes it possible 

 for the bee to cling to smooth 

 objects. Tactile hairs are also FlG - 

 present (Jh.). 



The middle, or mesothoracic legs 

 (Fig. 131, D) are provided with 

 a pollen brush (b), but, instead of an antenna cleaner, a spur (s) 

 is present at the distal end of the tibia. This spur is used to pry 

 the pollen out of the pollen baskets on the third pair of legs, and 

 to clean the wings. 



The metathoracic legs (Fig. 131, A and B) possess three very 

 remarkable structures, the pollen basket, the wax pinchers 

 (wp. in B), and the pollen combs (at p in B). The pollen basket 

 consists of a concavity in the outer surface of the tibia with rows 

 of curved bristles along the edges (ti. in A). By storing pollen 



132. Foot of honeybee, an., 

 claw ; fh., tactile hairs ; PV., pul- 

 villus ; /, tarsal joints. (From 

 Packard after Cheshire.) 



