ABSTRACT
Though walking forms part of many insect behaviour patterns, the mechanism of insect walking has received relatively little attention in recent years. As a preliminary to a later investigation of neuromuscular co-ordination in insects, the normal pattern of walking movements in the cockroach and other insects has been studied. The results obtained and an account of the functional anatomy of the insect leg are given in this paper. The forces involved have not been measured, but a preliminary analysis of the mechanics of walking has been made with the help of ‘stills’ from cinematographic films. The use of cinematography greatly facilitates such an investigation.
The convention adopted in diatingushing the different legs is as follows : R and L denote the right and left legs of each segment which are numbered from in front. Thus La is the left middle leg.
