PLATE 3.24. DRONE FORELEG, CLOSE-UP

TOP LEFT. Tibia-basitarsus joint, the region of the antenna cleaning apparatus (comb). The fibula (upper right) is a clasplike spur that closes over the semicircular toothed notch (rimmed with comblike hairs). The antenna is inserted in this enclosure and drawn upward to clean debris from its cuticular receptors. The fibula fits into the proximal portion of the basitarsus to form an embrace around all antenna surfaces. (x 161)

TOP RIGHT. Dorsal view of the fibula showing the notch of the antenna cleaner. From this angle it is apparent that the fibula is contoured into several lobes to make better contact with the circular (in cross section) antenna. (x 195)

MIDDLE RIGHT Higher magnification of the tibia-basitarsus joint. A patch of unusual cuticular setae is on the tibia (see the top right micrograph). These setae have twisted blunt tips with several parallel ridges along the long axis of the hair. ( x 496)

BOTTOM RIGHT. Femur-tibia joint. The intersegmental membrane is studded with short, acute cuticular spines. (x 770)

BOTTOM LEFT Femur-tibia joint. The tibia is very flexed relative to the femur. The long, straight, unbranched hairs of the compound eye are in the far background. (x 280)