Question

Which of the following insect have adhesive type of leg:

• A. Butterflies
• B. Whiteflies
• C. Fireflies
• D. Houseflies

Hint:

Houseflies can walk on ceilings and smooth glass because of the sticky liquid secreted by the tiny hairs on their pulvilli (adhesive pads) located at the tip of their legs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Insects exhibit diverse leg modifications depending on their lifestyle, habitat, and locomotion requirements (e.g., cursorial, saltatorial, raptorial, or adhesive).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The housefly (Musca domestica) has highly specialized adhesive tarsal pads called pulvilli on its legs.
These pulvilli are covered with microscopic glandular hairs (tenent hairs) that secrete an adhesive fluid composed of sugars and lipids.
This secretion allows the housefly to adhere to and walk upside down on smooth vertical surfaces like glass.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The insect with an adhesive type of leg is the housefly, which corresponds to option (D).