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The Worker Bees

© Jim Baines

The Worker Bees

Uploaded: August 22, 2009

Description


Oh, that long brown thing on the far right is the "proboscis" ... it works like a turkey baster .. little muscles suck nectar up into it. When it isn't in use it folds up under the bee's head.


Copperas Cove, Texas
20 August 2009


Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 10/2000 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 400, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 105.00 mm, Model: NIKON D200

Comments

Jim Baines level-classic August 22, 2009

The bees that most of us see routinely as we go about our nature photography are the worker bees. The young worker honeybee, about half an inch in length, begins her adult life as you might expect, by dusting and running the vacuum in her birth cell. She then dons a white cap and assumes the duties of nurse bee, a role that will last for a week or more. She spends the next week within the hive wearing her tool belt and back brace, constructing new honeycomb, producing wax, and repositioning food and nectar stores. She then straps on her pistol and spends several days guarding the entrance to the hive. Finally, when she reaches bee maturity, she takes wing, visiting many dozens of flowers during her every expedition, gathering pollen and nectar. Arriving back at her hive, she performs a sophisticated and highly structured dance that points the way to the source of her bounty. She, with perhaps 40,000 of her sisters, will fly tens of thousands of miles within our neighborhoods to visit millions of flowers (and our hummingbird feeders) to produce a single pound of honey. In the event of a threat to the hive, she produces special scents to raise the alarm. Her scout sisters produce a special scent to signal the location of promising flowers. If born in the spring, she can expect to write her epitaph in about six weeks ... if born in the fall, she can delay it until the following spring.

#1171073

Michelle Alton August 22, 2009

An incredible shot, and the informative narrative is beautifully composed too. Very entertaining entry! #7876831

Karen Engelbreth August 22, 2009

Wonderful capture, Jim... #7876884

Tammy M. Anderson level-deluxe August 22, 2009

Good morning, Jim. Outstanding details and capture. Interesting info too. #7876925

Amy M. Wilson August 22, 2009

Wow, excellent capture, details and clarity...well done, Jim! #7877312

Val Feldman level-deluxe August 22, 2009

One word: FANTASTIC!!! #7877660

Donna K. Kilcher level-classic August 22, 2009

WOW #7877713

Tammy Espino August 22, 2009

Fantastic! #7878443

Ron McEwan August 23, 2009

Jim this is one outstanding series you have here. I know of two locations here with hives. One is out at the farm in the house. And one is east of town in an old abandoned house, On a warm day the honey starts to run down the side of the house, we are waiting until frost to go harvest the honey. #7879550

Stefania Barbier level-classic August 24, 2009

wonderful macro, well done! #7882199

Jeff Robinson level-deluxe August 24, 2009

Great job with this macro Jim!! Jeff #7883999

Melinda B. Shiflet August 24, 2009

WHOAH!! AWESOME macro there, my friend! So clear! I think you can see every little hair on those busy bees! ;) Great job! #7884921

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