Petal pusher

9 August 2007 12 Comments Home » Insects etc.

Something I haven’t seen before: a honey bee returning to the hive comes back with tiny flower petals attached instead of pollen. Anyone have an idea what flower these are from?
Petal pusher

12 Comments »

  • Angela said:

    How bizarre! Was the bee holding them or were they stuck to her feet?

    # 11 August 2007 at 4:27 pm
  • Rick said:

    This image is all I have. I think this is accidental, but maybe someone has seen this before.

    # 12 August 2007 at 12:18 pm
  • Angela said:

    Maybe a particularly interesting new shoe fashion in the bee world? Exotic foot fungus?

    # 13 August 2007 at 10:19 am
  • Rick said:

    Great idea. Maybe this bee is wearing the latest fall 2007 Haute Couture, or just prêt-à-porter hive footwear. Wish I knew what plant it was visiting.

    # 13 August 2007 at 12:29 pm
  • Denice said:

    The petals look like they were already dropping off and the morning dew made them stick to their feet. Either that or it’s MAGIC!!

    # 28 August 2007 at 9:31 am
  • Rick said:

    This was taken on a dry afternoon, not much moisture. I don’t think water could hold those petals fast. I think I’ll go with magic.

    # 28 August 2007 at 2:29 pm
  • karen said:

    The packages attached to the bee’s feet are pollenium. They are packettes of pollen from a milkweed plant.

    # 8 November 2007 at 11:29 am
  • Rick said:

    Great information, Karen.   Thanks for the identification.

    # 8 November 2007 at 3:24 pm
  • Christina said:

    Yes, I can agree with Karen. As a botany student, I always wondered how pollinia sacs actually looked like on pollinators. Beautiful picture Rick!

    # 2 December 2007 at 8:39 am
  • Rick said:

    Thanks, Christina. I’m glad some of my images can be useful too.

    # 2 December 2007 at 6:22 pm
  • Sandi said:

    Rick -
    This is an awesome shot. I have never seen a shot like this. Good job. Where did you take it? Sandi

    # 23 August 2009 at 7:04 pm
  • Rick said:

    Thanks Sandi, I wasn’t sure what I was seeing at first, either.

    I made this in Bloomfield Township.

    # 23 August 2009 at 8:21 pm

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