Pollen on head of honeybee
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Pollen on head of honeybee
False colour scanning electron micrograph of unidentified pollen grains on the hairs of the face of a worker honey bee (Apis mellifera). The facial hairs of the honey bee are especially suited to gathering pollen; wedged amongst them, the pollen is carried from flower to flower. Some grains rub off against the female stigmatic surface of the right species of flower, pollinating the plant; others rub off against the wrong species & are lost. The bee has a structure called the pollen basket on its hind knees; it combs the grains from its body with its front claws & transfers them to the basket. Magnific- ation: X 280 at 8x10 inch, X 65 at 5x7cm size
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6288769
© DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Apis Mellifera Bees Honey Bee Insect Borne Pollen Re Production Reproductive
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the intricate world of a honeybee's daily life. In this false color scanning electron micrograph, we are granted a close-up view of unidentified pollen grains delicately resting on the hairs of a worker honeybee's face. These facial hairs play an essential role in gathering pollen as the bee flits from one flower to another, ensuring the continuation of plant reproduction. As the honeybee collects nectar and pollen, some grains adhere to its body and eventually find their way onto the female stigmatic surface of compatible flowers, pollinating them effectively. However, not all encounters result in successful pollination; some grains inadvertently rub off against incompatible species and are lost in this delicate dance between bees and plants. The photograph also reveals an intriguing feature known as the pollen basket located on the hind knees of the bee. With remarkable precision, it combs these precious grains from its body using its front claws before carefully transferring them into this specialized structure. At magnifications ranging from X 280 at 8x10 inches to X 65 at 5x7 centimeters size, this image allows us to appreciate both nature's intricacy and our tiny allies' crucial role in sustaining ecosystems worldwide. It serves as a reminder that even seemingly insignificant interactions can have profound impacts on our planet's biodiversity.
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