View allAll Photos Tagged Pollination
Black tailed Bumblebee (Bombus melanopygus) on a Green Gentian (Frasera speciosa) flower, working the nectaries located in pockets on the corner of the petals. Green gentian grows for 20-40 years prior to its only flowering event, when it sends up a stock with numerous flowers. Green gentian grows from grasslands at 3000 feet to alpine tundra around 12,000 feet.
Niwot Ridge, Colorado
Can't identify the butterfly or the flower, really need to squat up on things like this, anybody know what either is?? Identified by Mary thanks. its a orange tip female on a cuckoo flower.
Taken at Cothay manor near Greenham in somerset, it's a wonderful and beautiful place only 7 or so miles from my place, will certainly be revisiting later on in the summer to see it in full bloom.
Pollinated bushpea flower (possibly Pultenaea cinerascens). I have watched native bees (mostly Lasioglossum sp.) straddle the wings with their legs and spread them apart, allowing the pollen presenters to pop forward from the keel as seen here. [Pilliga Nature Reserve, NSW.]
Fly cleaning itself from the pollen ! The beauty of this hairy monster is pollinating the flowers it feeds on, you can see the pollen all over its body!
Tulip pollen is dusted onto bees as they move around the flower and easily transferred between flowers.
A few weeks ago myself and Jack took ourselves for a big long evening walk around a lovely park nearby. We came across a humongous pom pom bush (not entirely sure what they are called but it was beautifully pink), we watched the bee's nestling themselves into each flower, rubbing their bums and legs inside, lifting the pollen and repeating the process over and over again. Some had tiny bunches of pollen stuck to their bodies and we found it so mesmerising observing them all at work. After ducking and diving out the way of a few, I realised how absolutely fascinating it was to see them doing their bit. A couple of weeks later I saw this post from Sir David Attenborough about the decline in the bee population, which made me very sad. Here's what it said:
'In the last 5 years the bee population has dropped by 1/3. If bees were to disappear from the face of the earth, humans would have just 4 years left to live. This time of year bees can often look like they are dying or dead, however, they're far from it. Bees can become tired and they simply don't have enough energy to return to the hive which can often result in being swept away. If you find a tired bee in your home, a simple solution of sugar and water will help revive an exhausted bee. Simply mix two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water, and place on a spoon for the bee to reach. You can also help by sharing this post to raise awareness.'
So next time you see a dying bee, bring it back to life so it can carry on doing it's bit.
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- I DID IT!!!! I finally made the image that I've been telling myself to create for the past 2 months. I had originally planned to shoot this image for my 7 day self portrait challenge, but there were so many elements missing (including the summer sun) so I decided to wait and create when I felt the time was right. I made the outfit out of 900 small sunflowers, I sewed each of them on individually, which took 5 whole days (I know, I don't even know how I had the patience, but it was super therapeutic!). I also created this GIANT bee prop using pipe cleaners, foam board and an old tech folder (does anyone remember carrying your homework around in one, thinking you were the bees knees?!, I used to love mine at school haha!) Anyway, it's been such a long time coming this image, and I'm so happy I was able to dance around in the field at sunset, last week, with my mate billy the bee!
Apis mellifera, European honey bee, on Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed.
Note the orange-colored pollen in the loaded pollen basket, or corbicula, on the tibia of the bee's hind leg.
Do you also see the Tapinoma sessile, odorous house ant, in this photo?
This photo was pure luck; a strong breeze was blowing the milkweed all over the place.