Bees’ legs as Pollen Press
Posted by Dorothy Lander
M’s Humble Bumble bee companion in Hmmm – M the Humdinger (www.harppublishing.ca/books/hmmm)
When I was crafting M’s humming companions for the intergenerational storybook entitled Hmmm – M the Humdinger, I was keen to use goldenrod blossoms (solidago) to represent the pollen on bees’ legs. For my next botanical bee, I will be sure to feature the pollen press on the back legs, used to create pollen balls. I learned about this recently from Cath Hodsman’s images (below) on Twitter.
Front and Back Legs of Bees
Photo Credit: Cath Hodsman, Insect Art Studio
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/InsectArtByCath?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
Each set of legs on a bee are different.The front legs have a notch for cleaning pollen off their antennae & the hind legs have a “pollen press”, designed to squeeze pollen, nectar & wax from their abdomen into pollen balls.
Hmmm – M the Humdinger is available in hardcover and audio online Flipbook through the HARP website (www.harppublishing.ca/books/hmmm) and will be available in hardcover in the soon-to-open bookstore on Main Street, Antigonish, Nova Scotia. http://thecuriouscatteaandbooks.ca/