midleg
- noun
- Specialized
- After locating and aligning with a female perched on a branch, the male retains his hold on her wing with one paddled midleg and waves his other midleg to and fro.
Examples
-
In ten cases, we saw a patrolling male hover beside a perched male or female and repeatedly reach toward its folded wings with one of its midlegs while facing it.
Academic text (1992) -
During the dance, the insect alternated the movements of its midlegs to impress its mate.
-
If he is unsuccessful, she slowly raises her abdomen, and he reverts to waving his free midleg and then to swinging before making another attempt.
Academic text (1992) -
The female may still kick him away, but if she remains still, the male releases his wing hold and launches into a series of graceful waves of both paddled midlegs.
Academic text (1992) -
After locating and aligning with a female perched on a branch, the male retains his hold on her wing with one paddled midleg and waves his other midleg to and fro.
Academic text (1992) -
The spider uses its midleg to help stabilize itself while spinning a web.
-
The ant moved quickly, using its midleg to grasp the food as it continued on its path.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word midleg is a simple compound of mid- meaning 'middle' and leg, so it names the middle pair of legs on an insect, the ones between the front and back legs. That's why a midleg helps with balance and movement.