Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

We were investigating bee wings under the microscope. We saw what looked like barbs all over the wing. What are those?

Thanks!
Wally

Hi Wally!

This is a great question, and I learned something new today while researching for it! I found a video from Dr. Shawn Clark answering this question. The link for him answering is listed here (https://youtu.be/ZYVEDWpsRIE?t=185), but I recommend watching the entire video (https://youtu.be/ZYVEDWpsRIE)!

Here's a link (https://askabiologist.asu.edu/honey-bee-anatomy) from Arizona State University about the other body parts of a bee, if you would like to read more about them. It has some great visuals.

Hope this helps!
Neha

Under the microscope, you are seeing little hairs that protect the bee's transparent wings against getting wet, contaminated with dust/dirt, etc. These little hairs are called "microtichia".

Hope that answers your question!
June

Hello,

This is a really interesting project idea!

Observations are a very important part of the scientific method, great work noticing this!

Where are the "barbs" located on the bee wing? It seems like they can be one of two things called hamuli or, like a fellow mentor suggested, "microtichia."

Hamuli should be located between the bee's smaller, hind wing and help connect the hind wing to the forewing. Microtichia, on the other hand, should look like small lines that cover the entire wing, where hamuli will only be at the edge of the smaller wing.

What you are seeing are most likely microtichia. Check out this gallery of microscopic images of a bee wing for some other pictures of bee wings under a microscope, and remember to double-check the information you read with a mentor at Science Buddies or through some other reputable source!

http://www.microbehunter.com/forum/phot ... -2-hamuli/

Hope this helps!
-cnooonan180

Numerous hairs are visible under the microscope. Chitin on the wings is white with a silvery sheen, thin, transparent, like glass. Therefore, bees are called silver-winged workers. In a queen bee, wings cover only half of the abdomen. Knowing this feature, the beekeeper can easily find the queen among thousands of worker bees.

The front wings of the bee are much longer than the rear ones, since their purpose is lift in flight. The rear fenders serve as a rudder, providing direction of flight. There are special hooks on the back of the front fender, and there are special hooks on the front edge of the rear fender (from 17 to 28 pieces).

With their wings, bees spread the smell of enzymes. The wings of bees, in addition to their main purpose, also provide sound signaling. The bee creates different signaling effects with different shades of their buzz. Beekeepers have been using this knowledge in practice for a long time.

The versatility of bee wings is amazing.