A different bee question

[Michael J Davis]

In my attempts to identify the bees in our garden I used Collins
"Complete British Insects".

One thing baffled me in the descriptions of the bees. It referred to the
colour of the 'pollen basket' - but surely bees don't *collect* pollen -
don't they, like any other insect, merely transfer pollen from flower to
flower by brushing against it? Isn't the leg appendage for storing the
'nectar' that they are drinking?

Mike

[Stephen Wolstenholme]

On Tue, 3 Jun 2014 10:32:29 +0100, Michael J Davis

Post by Michael J Davis
In my attempts to identify the bees in our garden I used Collins
"Complete British Insects".
One thing baffled me in the descriptions of the bees. It referred to the
colour of the 'pollen basket' - but surely bees don't *collect* pollen -
don't they, like any other insect, merely transfer pollen from flower to
flower by brushing against it? Isn't the leg appendage for storing the
'nectar' that they are drinking?
Mike

Bees collect pollen and nectar to feed the colony. They cross
pollinate flowers in passing. It almost by accident.


Steve

[Mike Coon]

Post by Stephen Wolstenholme
Bees collect pollen and nectar to feed the colony. They cross
pollinate flowers in passing. It almost by accident.

Yes, after all, though nectar is a good energy source the colony also
needs proteins for building new workers, and pollen is a ood source of that.

Just as wasps collect insect meat to feed their larvae.

Mike.

[Malcolm]

I can recommend a small book solely on bumblebees, also a phone app.

"Field Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland"

Currently £8.27 on Amazon with free delivery.

Malcolm

Post by Michael J Davis
In my attempts to identify the bees in our garden I used Collins
"Complete British Insects".
One thing baffled me in the descriptions of the bees. It referred to the
colour of the 'pollen basket' - but surely bees don't *collect* pollen -
don't they, like any other insect, merely transfer pollen from flower to
flower by brushing against it? Isn't the leg appendage for storing the
'nectar' that they are drinking?
Mike

[Michael J Davis]

Thank you Stephen, Mike, Malcolm for comments & recommendations.

Any help on the ID (before I get the Field Guide), please?

Mike

Post by Malcolm
I can recommend a small book solely on bumblebees, also a phone app.
"Field Guide to the Bumblebees of Great Britain and Ireland"
Currently £8.27 on Amazon with free delivery.
Malcolm

Post by Michael J Davis
In my attempts to identify the bees in our garden I used Collins
"Complete British Insects".
One thing baffled me in the descriptions of the bees. It referred to the
colour of the 'pollen basket' - but surely bees don't *collect* pollen -
don't they, like any other insect, merely transfer pollen from flower to
flower by brushing against it? Isn't the leg appendage for storing the
'nectar' that they are drinking?
Mike

Mike