Midge tarsus. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of of the tarsus (foot) of a midge (Diptera. Suborder Nematocera). Midges are a group of ins

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Midge tarsus. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of of the tarsus (foot) of a midge (Diptera. Suborder Nematocera). Midges are a group of insects that include many kinds of small flies. The foot consists of two claws (cyan) and two pads or cushions called pulvilli (blue). The claws are used for gripping rough surfaces and the pads for adhering to smooth surfaces. A brush of tube-like glandular hairs known as tenent hairs covers the pulvilli, secreting a sticky substance which allows the fly to land on any smooth surface. Magnification: x650 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 4572px × 3931px
Photo credit: © STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, diptera, false-coloured, fauna, fly, foot, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, midge, nature, nematocera, pulvillus, sem, single-celled, unicellular, wildlife, zoological, zoology