Description
Solitary bees in the Andrena genus carry pollen to their underground nest chambers using dense scopal hairs on their hind legs and under their abdomens — a collection system so efficient that returning foragers carry pollen loads approaching their own body weight. This photograph, made with a 100mm macro lens and ringflash at 2:1 reproduction, captures a tawny mining bee returning to her nest entrance with exceptional pollen loads — the orange and yellow pollen grains individually visible as distinct spheres on the hairs, the entire dorsal surface dusted with a light coating of loose pollen from flower contact. A photograph of considerable scientific documentation value and natural beauty that has been used in pollinator biology education and bee conservation communications.
