How does the female Wool Carder Bee carry pollen, unlike European honey bees?
Answer
Tucked underneath her abdomen
The mechanism used by the female Wool Carder Bee to transport pollen differs significantly from that of European honey bees. Honey bees are equipped with specialized structures on their hind legs known as corbiculae, often referred to as pollen baskets, where they pack pollen loads. In contrast, the female *A. manicatum* utilizes a different, specialized abdominal structure to carry her collected pollen. She tucks the material underneath her body. When successfully laden with pollen gathered for her larvae, this transport method results in a visibly fuzzy, often yellowish-orange, underside appearance, which helps distinguish her appearance from when she is merely gathering nesting fibers.
Related Questions
What resource is the male *A. manicatum* diet almost entirely restricted to due to reproductive duties?What specific purpose does the large quantity of pollen collected by female Wool Carder Bees serve?Which plant family is frequently cited as a major food source for the Wool Carder Bee?What is the collected fibrous material, often resembling wool, strictly used for by the female *A. manicatum*?How does the female Wool Carder Bee carry pollen, unlike European honey bees?What distinctive physical feature helps identify the male Wool Carder Bee?What is the primary function of nectar in the diet of both male and female Wool Carder Bees?What type of *Stachys* species is noted as particularly attractive, often correlating with high bee activity?What should gardeners prioritize to support the health of *A. manicatum* during their flight season?Compared to nectar utilization, how is the Wool Carder Bee's pollen collection generally focused?