Pollen basket

Pollen Basket

The pollen basket, also known as the corbicula, is a specialized structure found on the hind legs of certain species of bees. It is used by bees to collect and transport pollen back to their hives. This unique adaptation allows bees to efficiently gather pollen from flowers and contribute to the pollination process.

Anatomy

The pollen basket is located on the tibia of the hind legs of worker bees. It is a concave structure surrounded by long, stiff hairs known as pollen combs. These combs help in packing and securing the pollen within the basket. The basket itself is made up of a mixture of wax and pollen, forming a sticky mass that holds the collected pollen in place.

Function

The primary function of the pollen basket is to collect and transport pollen back to the hive. Worker bees visit flowers and use their mouthparts and specialized structures like the proboscis and mandibles to gather pollen grains from the anthers of flowers. They then transfer the collected pollen to their hind legs, where it is packed into the pollen basket.

The pollen basket allows bees to carry a significant amount of pollen back to the hive. This is crucial for the survival of the colony, as pollen serves as the primary protein source for developing bee larvae. Additionally, bees also use pollen to produce bee bread, a mixture of pollen and nectar that serves as a food source for the adult bees.

Pollen Collection

Bees collect pollen by brushing their bodies against the anthers of flowers. As they move from flower to flower, pollen grains stick to their body hairs. When the bees return to the hive, they use their legs to scrape the pollen from their bodies and pack it into the pollen basket. The pollen combs on the hind legs help in removing excess pollen and shaping it into a compact mass.

Importance in Pollination

The pollen basket plays a crucial role in the pollination process. As bees visit flowers to collect pollen, they inadvertently transfer pollen grains from the anthers to the stigma of the flowers they visit. This cross-pollination is essential for the fertilization and reproduction of many plant species. Without the pollen basket, bees would not be able to efficiently collect and transport pollen, leading to a decline in pollination rates and potentially affecting ecosystem health.