morphology of a honeybee: worker [2]

middle leg (outer surface)

Nonspecialized articulated member attached to the central segment of the thorax; it has a motor function and is used to clean the thorax and the wings.

pollen brush

Row of hairs located on the metatarsus of the worker bee; it is used to collect pollen.

spur

Movable appendage located on the tibia and used to release the pollen from the legs.

tarsus

Terminal segment of the leg; it is divided into five parts and has two claws.

claw

Pointy hook-shaped structure attached to the tarsus and allowing the bee to grab hold of things.

hind leg (inner surface)

Highly specialized articulated member attached to the terminal segment of the thorax; it has a motor function and is used to collect and transport pollen.

auricle

Row of hairs located at the upper terminal end of the worker bee’s metatarsus; it is used to move the pollen to the pollen packer, where it is compressed.

pollen packer

Articulation where the tibia and the tarsus meet; it is used to compress the pollen before moving it to the pollen basket.

pecten

Row of stiff hairs located at the tibia articulation of the worker bee; it is used to pack pollen into the pollen basket.

pollen brush

Row of hairs located on the metatarsus of the worker bee; it is used to collect pollen.

foreleg (outer surface)

Articulated member attached to the first segment of the thorax; it has a motor function and is used to clean the eyes and the antennae.

metatarsus

First segment of the tarsus attached to the tibia; it is much larger than the other segments.

antennae cleaner

Notch covered with rigid hairs; with the velum, its function is to clean the antennae.

tibia

Segment of the leg located between the femur and the metatarsus.

femur

Segment of the leg between the trochanter and the tibia.

velum

Movable appendage located at the base of the tibia; it is used to clean the antennae.

trochanter

Segment of the leg between the coxa and the femur.

coxa

Anterior segment of the leg articulating with the thorax and the trochanter.