concept

Beetle leg tip, microphotograph

Arabidopsis leaf hairs (trichomes)

Housefly, photomacrography

Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) leaf

Hairs on a leaf surface

Tick on a hedgehog

Drosophila leg, tarsus, SEM

Fly eye, photomacrography

Wolf spider eyes

False-coloured scanning electron micrograph of a drosophila tarsus, the part of an insect's leg furthest away from its body. Two hooks or claws visible in the centre of the image are used for attaching to rough surfaces. Below the claws lie the tarsal pads (pulvilli) which are covered in hairs (tenet setae). An adhesive substance is secreted through these hairs, which allows the fly to attach to smooth surfaces. <I>Drosophila melanogaster</I> (also known as the fruit fly) is commonly used in scientific research, particularly in the fields of developmental biology and genetics. Horizontal width of image is 103 micrometres.

Photomacrograph of a concrete mite (Balaustium). These bright red mites are small arthropods which feed on pollen and can prey on other small invertebrates. They lay their eggs in the soil or in cracks in the wall. These mites can be pests of crops and pasture and are known to sometimes bite people. Width of image is 4 mm.

Concrete mite (Balaustium)

Differential interference contrast (DIC) micrograph of a parasitoid wasp in the Himopolynema genus. These so-called "fairy flies" are actually parasitoid wasps that attack the eggs of other insects. As a result, many are used successfully for the biological control of insect pests of agriculture and horticulture. Himopolynema is the only genus in the family known to have metallic colour. This species was collected in Kalimantan, Borneo in late 2013 and is currently being studied further to determine whether it is a new species or not. Length of parasitoid wasp is approximately 1 mm.

Fairy fly (Himopolynema), parasitoid wasp

A microphotograph of beetle claws.

Beetle legs are formed of 2-5 different segments, called tarsi. Claws are found on the last tarsal segment of the leg. Most beetles use claws for walking, although they have evolved for other functions in come species of beetle. For example, the hind legs of the aquatic beetle have evolved to grow hair, which aid in swimming.

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Drosophila leg, tarsus, SEM

Concrete mite (Balaustium)

Fairy fly (Himopolynema), parasitoid wasp

Drosophila leg, tarsus, SEM

Beetle leg tip, microphotograph

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Hairs

Images

Catalogue

Drosophila leg, tarsus, SEM

Concrete mite (Balaustium)

Fairy fly (Himopolynema), parasitoid wasp

Drosophila leg, tarsus, SEM

Beetle leg tip, microphotograph

Wellcome Collection

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