Thorax#
1 . The thorax contains what parts?
Locomotory appendages – legs and wings
Muscles for powering the legs and wings
2 . How many wings does a honey bee have?
4 wings, 2 pairs, with the front wing being larger than the hind wing. Wings are attached to the thorax which is the locomotor center of the bee. In flight, the wings become connected by structures along the wing called hamuli. The ability to fly far and fast has contributed to the success of bees. On average, they can forage up to three miles from their colonies and reach speeds of 15 miles per hour. But research has shown they can fly up to five miles.
3 . Since there are no muscles attached to the wings, describe then, the mechanism that allows bees to fly.
Muscles in the thorax cause the thorax to expand and contract causing the wings to go up or down.
4 . How does the respiratory system in the honey bee work? Do they have lungs?
Honey bees have 3 thoracic and 7 abdominal air openings called spiracles. Air moves in and out of the spiracles during wing and abdominal motion. They are connected by a system of tracheoles that carries oxygen to each and every cell in the honey bee’s body
5 . Describe the special anatomy of the worker bee’s legs.
Bee’s have 6 legs (3 pairs) which provide a very stable base for walking or standing and at least three feet are always in contact with the surface when moving. Each foot is equipped with claws for grabbing uneven surfaces, as well as a sticky pad for gripping smooth surfaces. Each pair of legs is also equipped with special structures and arrangements of setae (a number of different bristles or hair-like structures for grooming the body or for collecting pollen and removing debris.
6 . What special feature does the hind leg have?
The pollen basket, or corbicula, is made of long stiff hairs that curve around a wide flattened section of the honey bees back leg. Stiff hairs on the other legs are used to comb pollen grains from the bee’s body, and compact and store in the pollen basket for transport back to the hive.
7 . Each one of the paired legs is modified for a special task and is different. What is the difference?
a. Front leg - The antennae are important sensory organs for the bee, which must remain clean in order to function effectively. Each of a bee’s front legs are equipped with an antenna cleaner. This specialized notch is lined with numerous fine, stiff setae (hairs). As the shaft of the antenna is drawn through, debris is removed. The tibial spur on the front legs helps to hold the antenna against the notch. b. Middle leg - The tibial spur of the middle legs can be used to stab the fresh wax flakes secreted by glands on the lower abdomen. The wax can then be transferred to the mandibles where it is shaped and positioned on the comb. c. The pollen press is located just below the pollen basket on the hind legs. As pollen is combed from the rest of its body, the bee uses this leg joint to compress the grain into a dense mass, which can be more efficiently stored in the corbicula.