HONEY BEE : STING APPARATUS

STRUCTURE : 1. It consists of two stylets articulated along their length to the hollow stylet sheath. 2. The stylets and their sheaths bear barbs at their tips. 3. Attached to the stylets proximally is a median poison sac into which opens two acid glands and one alkaline gland, which secretes the poison. 4. The sting has a set of 3 chitinous plates on either side to serve as levers. FUNCTION : While stinging, the barbs at the tips of the stylets make a wound. The muscles of the chitinous plates drive the stylets and stylet sheath into a victim. The secretions of two types of glands mix and pass down the poison canal into the wound. The sheath serves to guide the darts to open up the wound and to aid in conducting the poison.

CENTIPEDE
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE : 1. It commonly occurs under stones, in rotton logs and in houses in damp places. 2. Body is elongated, dorsoventrally flattened with numerous segments. 3. Head is distinct and bears a pair of antennae, a pair of mandibles and 2 pairs of maxillae. 4. Trunk appendages are numerous, each bearing a single pair of legs. 5. First pair of trunk appendages bears a sharp claw connected with the poison gland. 6. Centipede is harmful to mankind.

SEA CUCUMBER

BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE : 1. Sea cucumber is marine and cosmopolitan in distribution. 2. Body is elongated, cylindrical with mouth and anus at opposite ends. 3. The body is 5 sided bearing 5 longitudinal ambulacra, each provided with double rows of podia or tube-feet. 4. Mouth bears 10 highly dentritic or branched tentacles. 5. The smooth thin collar like region at the base of the tentacles is known as introvert. 6. Respiratory trees are present. 7. Sexes are separate. Development includes an auricularia larva.

SEA URCHIN
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE : 1. It is marine, found in the sea in the rocky places. 2. Body is globular in shape, somewhat flattened at the two poles forming distinct oral and aboral poles. 3. Mouth lies in the centre of oral pole and is surrounded by soft membrane known as peristome. Through the mouth, project the five teeth of Aristotles Lantern. 4. At the aboral pole is a much smaller aperture called the anus. 5. Numerous podia or tube-feet project from the surface among the spines. 6. Sexes are separate. Development includes a free swimming echinopluteus larva.