What Does an Insect Leg Look Like Up close? (BioE80 Spr 2015)

May 27, 2015 • 10:52 AM UTC

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kianab

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In one square mile of land, it’s possible to find more insects than human beings on the entire planet. Truly, we are living on an insect’s planet. Yet, I know so relatively little about them. Armed with a foldscope and the poor dead insect gathered from my windowsill, I set out to change that. I wanted to start by discovering how bugs and insects have the amazing ability to walk up walls. Are their feet extremely sticky? Do they have tiny suckers or hooks that allow them to cling to wall? I place the insect on a slide and examined it with my foldscope. What I found was a combination of interesting features.

First, they have tiny hairs all along the length of their legs. Seemingly, they would allow the insect to grip the surface they walk along better. They could also be sensory features, helping the insect to feel the world around it.

Second, their legs end in small, hook-like feet. These can act similarly to the hairs, but since they are much larger, would be a much stronger attachment. It could also explain why it’s so difficult to remove an insect from your clothing or picnic blanket! They can hook themselves onto the threads by their tiny feet.
Insects truly are interesting creatures, and I only examined a few. Just imagine the variation that must exist, even within only one square mile!
-Kiana Brown

What Does an Insect Leg Look Like Up close? (BioE80 Spr 2015)

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