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Under a low magnification of 39X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) focused on the proximal base of a female velvet ants, Dasymutilla sp., stinger. Note that the base of the stinger is encased in a sheath, the details of which may be seen in greater detail in PHIL 9880. Also see PHIL 4638, 6363, and 6364 for photographs of the ant revealing its coloration, and velvety covering of external chitinous hairs, many of which may be seen in this image surrounding the stingers base on the insects distal abdomen.Created: 2007
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Under a low magnification of 31X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) focused on the distal tip of a female velvet ants, Dasymutilla sp., stinger. Note that the very tip of the stinger is encased in a bulbous sheath, the details of which may be seen under greater magnification in PHIL 9881, 9882, and 9883. Also see PHIL 4638, 6363, and 6364 for photographs of the ant revealing its coloration, and velvety covering of external chitinous hairs.Created: 2007
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Under a relatively low magnification of 63X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) focused on the distal tip of a female velvet ants, Dasymutilla sp., stinger. Note that the very tip of the stinger is encased in a bulbous sheath, the details of which may be seen under greater magnification in PHIL 9881, 9882, and 9883. Also see PHIL 4638, 6363, and 6364 for photographs of the ant revealing its coloration, and velvety covering of external chitinous hairs.Created: 2007
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Photographed in New Bedford, Massachusetts, by Harvard University, Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety entomologist/environmental biologist, Dr. Gary Alpert, this image depicted a newly begun, initial Bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata, nest. Bald-faced hornets are common in both wooded and urban areas in New England. A carton nest, which is more or less a nest within a nest, as seen in this image, a queen starts a new nest each spring after the weather warms up in late April or May.Created: 2006
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Photographed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the Harvard University campus, by Harvard University, Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety entomologist/environmental biologist, Dr. Gary Alpert, this image depicted a mature Bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata, nest, which had been built by its colony up under the cornice of a museum building, abutting the capital of a Corinthian column. Bald-faced hornets are common in both wooded and urban areas in New England. Queens start a new nest each spring after the weather warms up in late April or May.Created: 2006
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Photographed in Concord, Massachusetts, May, 2006 by Harvard University, Dept. of Environmental Health and Safety entomologist/environmental biologist, Dr. Gary Alpert, this image depicted an anterior view of a Bald-faced hornet, Dolichovespula maculata. Though named as a hornet, this wasp is not a true hornet from the genus, Vespa, but is more closely related to the yellow jackets, and is a member of of the genus Dolicovespula.Created: 2006
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Under the moderately high magnification of 934x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the morphologic features encountered on the ventral surface of a male carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica, abdomen.Created: 2006
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Under the moderate magnification of 233x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the morphologic features encountered on the ventral surface of a male carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica, abdomen.Created: 2006
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Under a very low magnification of only 29x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the morphologic features encountered at the distal tip of a male carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica, abdomen. Note the absence of a stinger, for male carpenter bees have no stinger, and therefore, cannot sting, while females do have a stinger, and though they can sting, they very rarely do.Created:
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Under the moderate magnification of 125x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed some of the morphologic features encountered at the distal tip of a male carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica, abdomen. Note the absence of a stinger, for male carpenter bees have no stinger, and therefore, cannot sting, while females do have a stinger, and though they can sting, they very rarely do sting.Created: 2006
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Under the moderate magnification of 207x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed the rear leg anatomy of a carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica, at the region of the "tibial spur". These spurs, which are exoskeletal protuberances, enable the bee to grasp various floral structures, thereby, enhancing its maneuverability inside the flower while it obtains it nectar meal, and pollinates the plant. See PHIL #8828 for a view of the same tibial spur under a lower magnification.Created: 2006
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Under a very low magnification of only 24x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) revealed the rear leg anatomy of a carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica, at the region of the "tibial spur". These spurs, which are exoskeletal protuberances, enable the bee to grasp various floral structures, thereby, enhancing its maneuverability inside the flower while it obtained its nectar meal, and pollinated the plant.Created: 2006
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At a low magnification of 105x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the morphologic details found on one of the legs of a carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common.Created: 2006
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At a low magnification of 107x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the morphologic details found on one of the legs of a carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common.Created: 2006
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At a low magnification of 211x this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the morphologic details found at the distal end of a leg of a carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica. Note the configuration of what is known as the "tarsal claw", used by the bee to grasp objects in its environment while obtaining food, or tunneling a nest. As a member of the Phylum Arthropoda, this insect possessed "jointed legs, a morphologic characteristic from which the name Arthro from "joint, and poda from "leg", was derived. One of the leg joints of this bee could be seen in the foreground. Also, note the sensorial "hairs, or "setae, on the exoskeletal surface of both the antenna and leg. These hairs are sensitive to changes in the organism's environment including changes in temperature, wind speed and direction, chemical variations, and changes to the physical make-up of its surroundings, i.e., tactile interaction.Created: 2006
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At a low magnification of 105x this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the morphologic details found at the distal end of a leg of a carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica. Note the configuration of what is known as the "tarsal claw", used by the bee to grasp objects in its environment while obtaining food, or tunneling a nest. The "hairs" on the bee's leg, are not hairs in the mammalian sense, but rather than being composed of keratin, these hair-like structures are composed of "chitin", a polysaccharide, i.e., complex carbohydrate molecule, composed of monosaccharides joined together by glycosidic bonding. These hairs are sensorial, as well as protective, both insulating the bee from thermal changes in its environment, and possible physical assaults.Created: 2006
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At a low magnification of 119x, this scanning electron micrograph depicted some of the morphologic details displayed on the surface of a carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica, head in the region of the insect's three "ocelli", or simple eyes. Note the textural complexities of bumps, ridges, troughs and "hairs" or "setae", all composed of the same proteinaceous material known as chitin, as is the exoskeleton itself.Created: 2006
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Magnified 998x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the ultrastructural morphologic features displayed on the surface of one of a carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica two antennae. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common. Carpenter bees can be quite a nuisance, for they are well known as wood-borers, and can create many unsightly holes in a home's wooden components.Created: 2006
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Under a relatively low magnification of only 250x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the ultrastructural morphologic features displayed on the surface of a carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica head. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common. Carpenter bees can be quite a nuisance, for they are well known as wood-borers, and can create many unsightly holes in a home's wooden components.Created: 2006
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Under a relatively low magnification of only 125x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the ultrastructural morphologic features displayed on the surface of a carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica head. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common. Carpenter bees can be quite a nuisance, for they are well known as wood-borers, and can create many unsightly holes in a home's wooden components.Created: 2006
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Under a low magnification of only 57x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the ultrastructural morphologic features displayed on the surface of a carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica head. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common. Carpenter bees can be quite a nuisance, for they are well known as wood-borers, and can create many unsightly holes in a home's wooden components.The "feathery" structures are known as "setae", and though they appear frail, the material from which they are constructed, known as "chitin", is the same proteinaceous material that created its tough exoskeletal exterior. These setae, are highly sensorial in nature, and transmit changes in the bee's environment such as fluctuations in temperature, chemistry, and wind speed and direction.Created: 2006
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Under a low magnification of only 28x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the ultrastructural morphologic features displayed on the surface of a carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica head. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common. Carpenter bees can be quite a nuisance, for they are well known as wood-borers, and can create many unsightly holes in a home's wooden components.Created: 2006
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Magnified 55x, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the ultrastructural morphologic features displayed on the surface of a carpenter bee's, Xylocopa virginica head. This particular bee was found deceased on the grounds of the Decatur, Georgia suburbs, an area where these insects are quite common. Carpenter bees can be quite a nuisance, for they are well known as wood-borers, and can create many unsightly holes in a home's wooden components.Created: 2006
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An alfalfa leafcutting bee (Megachile rotundata) on an alfalfa flowerFrom
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