Common objects of the microscopeWood, J. G. (John George)
Science
Common objects of the microscope
Wood, J. G. (John George)
Microscopes; Microscopy
Immediately above the compound eyes are seen the roots of the antennæ,
those organs themselves being cut away. Above there are two pairs of
similarly constructed organs termed the “maxillary palpi,” because
they belong to the lesser jaws or maxillæ, seen just within the pair
of great curved jaws called the mandibles, which are extended in so
threatening a manner. The “labial palpi,” so called because they
belong to the “labium,” or under lip, are seen just within the others;
the tongue is seen between the maxillæ, and the chin or “mentum”
forms a defence for the base of the maxillæ and the palpi. A careful
examination of a beetle’s mouth with the aid of a pocket lens is very
instructive as well as interesting.
Fig. 1 on the same Plate shows the jaws of the hive bee, where the same
organs are seen modified into many curious shapes. In the centre may be
seen the tongue, elongated into a flexible and hair-covered instrument,
used for licking the honey from the interior of flowers. At each side
of the tongue are the labial palpi, having their outermost joints very
small, and the others extremely large, the latter acting as a kind
of sheath for the tongue. Outside the labial palpi are the maxillæ,
separated in the specimen, but capable of being laid closely upon each
other, and outside all are the mandibles.
VI.
FIG.
1. Antenna, Cricket
2. Do. Grasshopper
3. Do. Staphylinus
4. Do. Cassida
5. Do. Staphylinus
6. Do. Weevil
7. Do. Pyrochroa
8. Do. Butterfly, Tortoiseshell
9. Do. Gnat, male
10. Do. Syrphus
11. Do. Cockchafer, male
12. Do. Ground Beetle
13. Do. Ermine Moth
14. Do. Tiger Moth
15. Do. Blowfly
16. Do. do. section
17. Do. Ichneumon
18. Eye of Butterfly, Atalanta
19. Eyes, Bee
20. Eye, Death’s Head Moth
21. Breathing-tube, Silkworm
22. Eye, Heliophilus
23. Do. Lobster
24. Do. Aphis of Geranium
25. Head, Parasite of Tortoise
26. Hind leg, Aphis of Geranium
27. Head, Gnat
28. “Paps” of Aphis
29. Head, Sheep-tick
30. Foot, Tipula
[Illustration: VI.]
The curiously elongated head of the scorpion-fly (_Panorpa_), seen
at Fig. 7, affords another example of the remarkable manner in which
these organs are developed in different insects. Another elongated
head, belonging to the daddy long-legs, is seen in Plate VI. Fig. 27,
and well shows the compound eyes, the antennæ, and the palpi. Fig. 2
represents the coiled tongue of the Atalanta butterfly; it is composed
of the maxillæ, very greatly developed, and appearing as if each
had originally been flat, and then rolled up so as to make about
three-fourths of a tube. A number of projections are seen towards the
tip, and one of these little bodies is shown on a larger scale at
Fig. 3. These curious organs have probably some connection with the
sense of taste. Along the edges of the semi-tubes are arranged a number
of very tiny hooks, by means of which the insect can unite the edges at
will.
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