The knee of a bee!
The knee of a bee!
The specialization of insect legs is a great subject for photomicrography. The honeybee's legs are highly specialized. Here you can see the pollen combs which collect pollen from the middle legs and abdomen. The stiff bristles ("pecten" or "rake") at the bottom of the tibia collects the pollen from the pollen combs on the opposite side of the body. The pollen is collected into the space above the "anvil-like" auricle. When the bee bends it's leg back and forth (during flight) the pollen is crushed in this "pollen press" and packed into the pollen basket (located on the opposite side of the tibia from this view).
No surprise why this is commonly called a "pollen comb"
Without pollen, you can see the auricle and pecten more clearly
The pecten (... commonly called the "pollen rake")
And the auricle, part of the "pollen press" in the joint of the basitarsus and tibia, is very interesting when viewed at a little higher magnification. Looks like the perfect tool for the job of crushing and packing pollen.
No surprise why this is commonly called a "pollen comb"
Without pollen, you can see the auricle and pecten more clearly
The pecten (... commonly called the "pollen rake")
And the auricle, part of the "pollen press" in the joint of the basitarsus and tibia, is very interesting when viewed at a little higher magnification. Looks like the perfect tool for the job of crushing and packing pollen.
Re: The knee of a bee!
My goodness Charles, just wonderful imaging, and a relatable and fascinating subject too.
It is just a treat to have you here. Thanks very much for posting.
Rod
It is just a treat to have you here. Thanks very much for posting.
Rod
Re: The knee of a bee!
Incredibly sharp images (pun intended) ... it is almost as if I could pinch myself on those spikes!
Most interesting.
Most interesting.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: The knee of a bee!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing!
Re: The knee of a bee!
Incredible bee insect details, along with micro life insects to me are one of the most and interesting examples of life captured with the camera going back to the 1800`s. Fossil records of insects dating back multiple millions of years old can be looked at and studied.
We have a tree with a honey bee hive inside a a bad section of it.
Thanks for the images.
Rodney
We have a tree with a honey bee hive inside a a bad section of it.
Thanks for the images.
Rodney
Re: The knee of a bee!
Wow - Incredible. thanks for sharing Charles.
Re: The knee of a bee!
WOW!!... More wonderful photos!... Thanks for sharing!....
BillT
BillT
Re: The knee of a bee!
I am a bee keeper so what Charles has posted is of great interest to me I have photographed the entire anatomy of the honey bee but not to such a depth as Charles has shown. Brilliant Charles just brilliant.
Hopefully I will bee able to show the internal organs of the female honey bee.
Nice one Charles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the best.
Hopefully I will bee able to show the internal organs of the female honey bee.
Nice one Charles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the best.
Thank you
Best regards
exmarine
uses Watson 'Service' 1950 compound.
uses Watson Stereo 1960 ish.
Best regards
exmarine
uses Watson 'Service' 1950 compound.
uses Watson Stereo 1960 ish.
Re: The knee of a bee!
Bonjour
Superbe images
Cordialement seb
Superbe images
Cordialement seb
Microscope Leitz Laborlux k
Boitier EOS 1200D + EOS 1100D
Boitier EOS 1200D + EOS 1100D
Re: The knee of a bee!
I echo all the above sentiments! I just love honeybees covered with pollen pictures, and have a peculiar fascination with pollen itself. I love that the information content is equal to the eye candy here -- not only wonderful photography to gaze upon, but I even get to come away just a bit smarter too!
Thanks Charles!!
Thanks Charles!!
Cheers,
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/
Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
email: ngc704(at)gmail(dot)com
https://www.flickr.com/photos/67904872@ ... 912223623/
Re: The knee of a bee!
Thank you for sharing Charles. Amazing images as usual!
Kurt mentioned "eye candy". For some reason, I feel these images very...appetizing. Maybe from the color palettes of subject...?
I feel like reaching out, break one of the thorny sticks, and...suck on it.
Honey candy indeed
Kurt mentioned "eye candy". For some reason, I feel these images very...appetizing. Maybe from the color palettes of subject...?
I feel like reaching out, break one of the thorny sticks, and...suck on it.
Honey candy indeed
- wmodavis
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Re: The knee of a bee!
And for sure as already mentioned previously the pictures are indeed stunning BUT.... without the extremely informative narrative they would only be stunning as quality photomicrographs. With your superbly stunning explanation of it all it is even more stunning for the clarity communicated.
In other words - I like it!
In other words - I like it!
Bill Davis
Olympus BH-2/BHS and BH-2/BHT both with trinoc head.
Olympus BH-2/BHS and BH-2/BHT both with trinoc head.
Re: The knee of a bee!
Bill said it very well. Great images and explanations.And for sure as already mentioned previously the pictures are indeed stunning BUT.... without the extremely informative narrative they would only be stunning as quality photomicrographs. With your superbly stunning explanation of it all it is even more stunning for the clarity communicated.
JimT
Re: The knee of a bee!
Thanks to all for the kind remarks (and again for the warm welcome here).
This reminded me of some other images that might be of interest, I'll "dig" them up.Rodney wrote:Fossil records of insects dating back multiple millions of years old can be looked at and studied.
Re: The knee of a bee!
Wow. What a treat that really was.
I'm looking forward to the next story and set of stunning images.
I'm looking forward to the next story and set of stunning images.
Re: The knee of a bee!
Nature is amazing. So are these incredible images.