Queen thorax terminology - scutum

[tandemrx]

the most distinctive part of the queen other than her abdomen is the large mostly hairless plate on her thorax - the part that some beekeepers mark with a paint pen or a numbered disc.

Near as I can tell from looking at honeybee anatomy books is that this part of the Queen anatomy is called the scutum (evidently pronounced "skootem" or "skyootem").  Is that correct?  Is there a more common name than this scientific name (other than thorax, since that encompasses more than just that plate structure)?

My wife and I were talking about a particular queen we had that had a little dimple in that plate, but we didn't really know what to call it. :?

[Michael Bush]

Scutum = Shield shaped portion of the back of the thorax of some insects including Apis mellifera (honey bees). Usually divided into three areas: the anterior prescutum, the scutum, and the smaller posterior scutellum.

This is not a commonly used term among beekeepers.  The dimple is one of the landmarks to divide it into two of the three sections with the front (in front of the dimple) being the prescutum, the middle (and the whole) are called the scutum and the very last of the back portion is called the scutellum.

Scutum is Latin for "Sheild" which is referring to the shape.  Most of us call it the back of the thorax... :)

[tandemrx]

thanks Michael,
i find it interesting that it isnt referred to by a more common name (i think i will call it the "queens shield" -i did see reference to this origin in a scientific article about ants) since it is such a prominent part of her anatomy.

our dimpled queen actually did have a dimple in her main scutum. i found her as a virgin queen & introduced her into a queenless hive i had (she may have been making her way to the hive but i found her on the ground about 30ft behind my hives with a group of attendants. she did well for a summer but the hive was my only loss this past winter.

i had many opportunities to observe her. particularly the day i found her & caged her - but for whatever reason i would always bump into her doing inspections. clearly had a depression on her shield. birth defect or injury i am not sure, but she did perform well for a summer.