Bee Anatomy Definitions

Bee Anatomy Definitions

Category	Term	Description
Main (rear) body part	Abdomen	A bee's abdomen is its rear body section, containing vital organs for digestion (honey stomach), reproduction (spermatheca, ovaries, testes), and defense (stinger), plus glands for wax (wax glands) and scent (Nasonov gland) in workers, all covered in protective segments that allow flexibility and house important functions like nectar storage and even breathing through pulsing. T1 is the first segment of the abdomen after the thorax, then T2, T3, T4, T5, and then T6 is the last portion of the abdomen.
Important morphology (VCE)	Abdomen detail	https://val.vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/andrena-annotated.jpeg
Main body part (respiration)	Spiracles	Bee spiracles are tiny, valve-controlled holes along a bee's thorax and abdomen that serve as its respiratory openings, allowing air (oxygen) to enter and carbon dioxide to exit, connecting to a network of internal tubes (tracheae) that deliver gases directly to the bee's cells, bypassing lungs. Bees have ten pairs of these spiracles, which open and close to regulate airflow, keeping moisture in and preventing debris from entering, with abdominal movements pumping air in and out.
Main body part (middle)	Thorax	The thorax is the middle section of a bee's body, and it is the center for locomotion, meaning it's where the six legs and two pairs of wings are attached. This segment contains powerful muscles that drive flight, produce buzzing sounds, and help the bee move. The thorax is also composed of three smaller segments that each have a pair of spiracles (2), which are openings for air.
Face	Antennae	Sensory appendages for smell, touch, and navigation.
Face	Antennal Sockets	Cavities in which the antennae articulate.
Face	Clypeus	Clypeus refers to the plate on the lower part of an arthropod’s face. Broad facial plate between the frons and labrum. Frons: Central face area between the antennae and ocelli. Labrum: Upper lip assisting food manipulation.
Face	Compound Eyes	Large, multi-faceted eyes providing wide-angle vision.
Important morphology (VCE)	Face detail	https://val.vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/clypaeus.jpg
Face	Frons	Central face area between the antennae and ocelli.
Face	Labrum	Upper lip assisting food manipulation.
Face	Mandibles	Jaws used for cutting, carrying, and nest construction.
Face	Ocelli	Three simple eyes on top of the head that detect light intensity.
Face	Paraocular lobe	On a bee's face: an area extending along the sides of the head, parallel to the inner margin of the compound eyes.
Face	Tooth, or subapical tooth	"Tooth" is a spine-like projection on the bees anatomy, typically located on the mandibles (jaws) or the gena (cheek area behind the eye). These are not true teeth like those found in mammals, but rather hardened, chitinous extensions of the exoskeleton that aid in specific functions. A subapical tooth is a small, tooth-like projection located on the mandible (jaw).
Mouthparts	Galea	Sheath-like maxillary element forming part of the tongue.
Mouthparts	Glossa (tongue)	A bee's glossa (Greek for "tongue") is the central, hairy, tube-like structure within its proboscis, acting like a flexible, hairy spoon to lap up nectar, which then gets sucked up the food canal for storage, forming a complex feeding straw. While people often call the whole thing the proboscis, the glossa is just the inner, hairy part that collects liquid, supported by other mouthparts like labial palpi and galeae to create a watertight tube for efficient feeding, making it a "straw-spoon hybrid"
Mouthparts	Labial Palps	Sensory appendages on the labium.
Mouthparts	Labium	A bee's labium is its "lower lip," a key part of its sucking mouthparts (proboscis that, along with other structures, forms a tube to drink nectar, acts like a spoon to lap it up, helps clean the bee and hive, and features sensory palps (16) for taste. It's formed from fused ancestral second maxillae and contains the 'tongue' (glossae and paraglossae) and palps for sensory input, allowing bees to taste as they feed.
Mouthparts	Maxillae	Lateral mouthparts aiding food manipulation.
Mouthparts	Palps	Bee palps (or palpi) are sensory appendages on a bee's mouthparts, with two pairs—maxillary palps (upper) and labial palps (lower)—that help with sensing food, grooming, and manipulating the proboscis (tongue) for nectar feeding. These jointed feelers detect chemicals and textures, aiding in food selection and taste, acting like tiny sensory antennae near the mouth.
Mouthparts	Paraglossa	Small lobes flanking the main glossa. Glossa: Tongue
Mouthparts	Proboscis / Glossa	Elongate tongue used for nectar uptake.
Dorsal	Mesoscutum	Large central dorsal (top) thorax plate.
Dorsal	Metanotum	Small plate behind the scutellum. Scutellum: Plate following the mesoscutum.
Dorsal	Pronotum	Narrow segment behind the head.
Dorsal	Propodeum	First abdominal segment fused to thorax.
Dorsal	Sclerite	A sclerite is any of the hardened plates that form the bee's exoskeleton. These rigid, chitinous plates are connected by flexible, soft membranes (arthrodial membranes), which allow the bee to move despite having a hard outer covering.
Dorsal	Scutellum	Plate following the mesoscutum. (Small section at the base of the Thorax). Mesoscutum: Large central dorsal (top) thorax plate.
Dorsal	Tegulae	Small sclerites above wing bases. (Where the wing attaches to the thorax.)
Dorsal	Tergites	Dorsal (upper or back of the bee) abdominal segments.
Dorsal	Vertex	Top of the head behind the ocelli. Ocelli: Three simple eyes on top of the head that detect light intensity.
Ventral	Corbicula Floor	Surface supporting pollen loads.
Ventral	Gena	Lower side portion of the head.
Ventral	Mesepisternum	Major thoracic side plate.
Ventral	Sternites	Ventral (underside) abdominal segments.
Ventral	Ventral Propodeal Plate	Underside of the propodeum. Propodeum: First abdominal segment fused to the thorax.
Lateral	Gena	Cheek region behind the eyes.
Lateral	Mesepisternum	Large thoracic plate on the side.
Lateral	Metepisternum	Rear side plate of thorax.
Lateral	Pre-episternal Groove	Groove separating thoracic plates.
Lateral	Propodeal Spiracle	Respiratory opening on propodeum. Propodeum: First abdominal segment fused to the thorax.
Lateral	Temporal Area	Posterior-lateral head area. P-L: rear and on the side of the head.
Leg	Arolia	Adhesive pads for traction.
Leg	Corbicula	Pollen basket on hind tibia.  Corbicula (Corbiculae pl.) refers to the “pollen basket”, a part of the hind legs of some bee species such as bumble bees and honey bees. Corbiculae are used to harvest and carry pollen from flowers to the nest or hive. Other bees have scopae. Corbiculae - Many bees have flattened plates used as pollen baskets on hind legs (e.g. honey bees (Apis mellifera) and bumble bees (Bombus spp.). Tibia: Segment bearing spines and scopa.
Leg	Coxa	Basal leg segment attaching to thorax.
Leg	Femur	Robust upper leg segment.
Leg	Scopa	Pollen-collecting hairs. Scopa (Scopae pl.) refers to the groups of hairs on the body of some bees that help in pollen collection and transport from flowers to the nest. Scopae - Pollen-carrying hairs usually on the hind legs or the underside of the abdomen, often covered with pollen.
Leg	Tarsal Claws	Terminal claws for gripping.
Leg	Tarsus	Multi-segmented foot.
Leg	Tibia	Segment bearing spines and scopa. The Tibia follows the femur. Scopa: Pollen-collecting hairs.
Leg	Trochanter	A small segment between the coxa and femur. Coxa: Basal leg segment attaching to the thorax. Femur: Robust upper leg segment.
Wings	Costa	Leading wing edge vein.
Wings	Forewing	Larger anterior wing. Anterior: near the front.
Wings	Hamuli	Hooks connecting the hindwing to the forewing. Back and front wings.
Wings	Hindwing	Smaller wing attaching via hamuli. Hamuli: Hooks connecting the hindwing to the forewing. Back and front wings.
Wings	Radius/Media/Cubitus	Primary longitudinal veins. (Long.: running lengthwise)
Wings	Stigma	Thickened leading-edge area.
Wings	Subcosta	Second major vein behind the costa. Costa: Leading wing edge vein.
Wings	Wing Cells	Enclosed wing areas are used in taxonomy.
Important morphology (VCE)	General Body plan of a bee (Photo)	https://val.vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/body-parts-2.jpeg
Full Anatomy	Labelled diagrams	https://vtbugeyed.blogspot.com/2024/02/bee-body-parts.html
Important morphology (VCE)	Wing detail	https://val.vtecostudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Wing.jpg

Link to: Bee Anatomy titled Illustrations