THORAX
Figure 4.4 Tiny hooks on wings of bumblebee
1. Wings:
Bumblebees have a total of 4 wings. The rear wings and fore wings are attached by a row of tiny hooks. Bumblebee wings are made up of chitin.
Bumblebees have a total of 4 wings. The rear wings and fore wings are attached by a row of tiny hooks. Bumblebee wings are made up of chitin.
2. Legs:
Like most insects, the hind legs of the bumblebees are made up of the coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus and pretarsus, to which the claws attach. By observing the legs, the sex of the bee can be determined. Female bees have pollen basket on their hind legs, which enables them to store and carry pollen. This pollen basket is called corbicula. When the corbicula is full of pollen, it appears orange- yellow. In figure 4.5, note the presence of the corbicula, indicating that it is a female bee. Male bees do not have corbicula, thus, they are unable to carry pollen. |