This document describes anatomical adaptations of appendages in various insect species. It discusses structures like the arolium on ant tarsi that aid in adhesion, the corbiculum on honey bee hind legs that carries pollen, pulvilli on housefly tarsi that enable suction, tympanums on katydid foretibiae used for hearing, claws on pubic lice adapted for grasping hair, spines on mantid front femurs for seizing prey, and microsetae on water strider front tibiae that trap air bubbles for flotation. It also mentions the modified front leg tarsi of mole crickets used for digging.

1. Ant tarsus; arolium,
between claws, is a
small invagination that
acts as a suction to
allow adhesion to slick
surfaces
Honey bee (Apis mellifer)
corbiculum; smooth, concave
surface on tarusu of hind leg.
fringed with long, curved
hairs to hold pollen in place
Honey bee leg
with pollen in
corbiculum
Pulvilli of house fly; (Musca
domestica) pad that enables
flies to suction to smooth surfaces.
Enclosed on each side by a
small tarsal claw
Tympanum on foretibia
of katydid. Used for hearing
Pubic louse (Pthirus pubis)
claw; adapted for grasping hair
Femur of front leg of mantid;
armed with spines to seize prey
Front tibia of water stirder
(Aquarius remigis) covered
with hairs called microsetae
that trap air bubbles to keep
the insect afloat.
Adaptations of Insect Appendages
Tarsus of front leg of mole
cricket; (Gryllotalpa brachyptera)
modified for digging