Pollen basket

A European honey bee carries pollen in the pollen basket back to the hive

The pollen basket or corbicula is part of the tibia on the hind legs of the four related lineages of apid bees that used to comprise the family Apidae: the honey bees, bumblebees, stingless bees, and orchid bees.^[1][2] The corbicula ("little basket") is a polished concavity surrounded by a fringe of hairs, into which the pollen is placed; most other bees possess a structure called the scopa, which is similar in function, but is a dense mass of branched hairs into which pollen is pressed, with pollen grains held in place in the narrow spaces between the hairs. A honey bee moistens the forelegs with a protruding tongue and brushes the pollen that has collected on head, body and forward appendages to the hind legs. The pollen is transferred to the pollen comb on the hind legs and then combed, pressed, compacted, and transferred to the corbicula on the outside surface of the tibia of the hind legs.^[3] A single hair functions as a pin that secures the middle of the pollen load. Honey and/or nectar is used to moisten the dry pollen. The mixing of the pollen with nectar or honey changes the color of the pollen. The color of the pollen can identify the pollen source.^[4]

The pollen basket is part of the tibia on the hind legs.

Bumblebee on milkweed with pollen basket on hind leg

Pollen Collection

Apparently, Karl von Frisch and other bee researchers have observed, individual honey bees vary in their efficiency in packing pollen into the pollen basket, some more efficient, others less; it takes an individual worker bee from three to eighteen minutes to complete a pollen load and return to the hive.^[5]

See also

• Pollen source
• Nectar source
• Western honey bee

References

1. ^ George Gordh, Gordon Gordh, David Headrick, A Dictionary of Entomology, Science, 2003; 1040 pages; pg.713
2. ^ Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Apiformes) Encyclopedia of Entomology 2008. Vol. 2, pages 419-434
3. ^ Cedric Gillott, Entomology, Springer, 1995; 798 pages; pg. 79
4. ^ Dorothy Hodges, The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee, published by Bee Research Association Limited, 1952
5. ^ Karl von Frisch: Aus dem Leben der Bienen, Springer-Verlag 1953

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This insect anatomy-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Bee stubs Insect anatomy Beekeeping Bees Pollination Insect anatomy stubs Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую Churning (stock trade) Peralta Adobe Look at other dictionaries: pollen basket — noun Date: 1860 a smooth area on each hind tibia of a bee that is edged by a fringe of stiff hairs and serves to collect and transport pollen called also corbicula …   New Collegiate Dictionary pollen basket — (of bees) a smooth area on the hind tibia of each leg fringed with long hairs and serving to transport pollen. Also called corbicula. [1855 60] * * * …   Universalium pollen basket — noun Entomology a flattened area fringed with hairs on the hind leg of a social bee, used for carrying pollen …   English new terms dictionary pollen basket — pol′len bas ket n. ent (in bees) a smooth area on the hind tibia of each leg fringed with long hairs and serving to transport pollen Also called corbicula • Etymology: 1855–60 …   From formal English to slang pollen basket — /ˈpɒlən baskət/ (say poluhn bahskuht) noun an area on the leg of a bee adapted for carrying pollen …   pollen basket — noun : a smooth area on each hind tibia of a bee that is edged by a fringe of stiff hairs and serves to collect and transport pollen …   Useful english dictionary pollen basket — see corbicula …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology Pollen — Tip of a tulip stamen with many grains of pollen Closeup image of a cac …   Wikipedia Pollen source — The term pollen source is often used in the context of beekeeping and refers to flowering plants as a source of pollen for bees or other insects. Bees collect pollen as a protein source to raise their brood. For the plant, the pollinizer, this… …   Wikipedia pollen brush — noun : a scopa used in collecting pollen; specifically : an arrangement of stiff hairs forming the margin of a pollen basket * * * the mass of stiff hairs on the legs or abdomen of an insect, for collecting pollen. Also called scopa. [1895 1900] …   Useful english dictionary 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”