What is the defining internal structure Hylaeus uses, instead of a scopa, to transport pollen provisions?

Answer

Crop (or "honey stomach")

A key characteristic distinguishing the genus *Hylaeus* from most other bee groups is their method of pollen transport, which relies solely on internal mechanisms rather than external structures. Most female bees possess a scopa, which is a dense mass of specialized, branched hairs located primarily on the hind legs, used as an external 'pollen basket.' Yellow-faced Bees lack this external apparatus. Instead, they gather pollen and mix it with nectar internally. This liquid mixture is stored in the crop, frequently termed the 'honey stomach,' which is typically used for storing nectar for immediate consumption or later regurgitation. The female regurgitates this mixed liquid mass directly into the brood cell to provision the larva. This internal transport mechanism is considered an ancestral trait within the evolution of bees.

What is the defining internal structure *Hylaeus* uses, instead of a scopa, to transport pollen provisions?

Related Questions

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insect bee classification