At a low magnification of only 25X, this scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicted some of the morphologic exoskeletal features located one of the six legs of an adult figeater beetle, Cotinis mutabilis. Sometimes referred to as a junebug, this insect is a member of the taxonomic family, Scarabaeidae, or dung beetles. In this particular image, structures associated with the exoskeletal nature of the insect’s leg, and its jointed construction, from which the organism derives its taxonomic membership to the phylum, Arthropoda, i.e., Arthro = jointed, and poda = legs, are quite evident. This beetle was found in the Decatur, Georgia suburbs.
Created: 2007