Wasp sting. Light micrograph of the dissected stinging apparatus of a worker wasp (Vespula germanica). In this preparation the three parts of the shaf
Wasp sting. Light micrograph of the dissected stinging apparatus of a worker wasp (Vespula germanica). In this preparation the three parts of the shaft of the sting have separated into the two lancelets (brown needle-shaped, upper left), and the wider stylet (brown) below the two lancelets. The two hollow lancelets fit into grooves on the hollow stylet to form a canal in the shaft of the sting to convey the poison toxins from the poison sac to the end of the sting. The round yellow area (right) contains chitinous plates and muscles, which force the shaft of the sting into the skin. Unlike in a bee, the lancelets are not barbed at the ends in the wasp, so they can be withdrawn after stinging and used again. Magnification: x36 when printed at 10 centimetres across.
Size: 5462px × 4000px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: anatomical, anatomy, animal, biological, biology, chitin, chitinous, defence, defense, dissected, dissection, entomology, fauna, germanica, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, lancelet, lancelets, light, lm, mechanism, micrograph, microscope, nature, poison, poisonous, shaft, sting, stylet, toxic, toxin, toxins, unbarbed, vespula, wasp, wildlife, worker, zoological, zoology
