Image of figeater beetle

Description:

Under a low magnification of only 24x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the anatomical relationships found on the ventral surface of this adult figeater beetle’s, Cotinis mutabilis thorax, which is the body region situated between the insect’s head and abdomen. In this particular view, two of the three pairs of legs may be seen emanating adjacent to the prosternal process, which is a posterior extension of the sternum. The insect leg is comprised of a variable number of segments, however, there are usually six which predominate, including the most proximal, i.e., attaching the leg to the thorax, coxa, followed by the trochanter, femur, tibia, tarsus, and pretarsus, which in the case of this beetle is a claw, well visualized in PHIL 9943, 9944, and 9945.
Created: 2007