Pollen baskets on the hind legs of a Bumblebee filled with pollen. Image by borderglider.
Bumblebees are easily recognizable with most species being about 2cm in length with a black and yellow (sometimes orange, red or completely black) striped hair pattern on their abdomen. (Williams PH 2007) The queen bee of some species can reach a size of 3cm to 3.5cm (NSW Scientific Committee 2011). Both the queen and worker bees have pollen baskets located on their hind legs. These pollen baskets or corbicula are shiny cavities surrounded by fringing hairs that allow the bees to carry pollen. The corbicula are a defining characteristic of Bumblebees as most other bees have a different pollen carrying structure called a scopa. The scopa is a mass of hairs that carries pollen by wedging it in the gaps between hairs (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011).
Like all insects Bumblebees move hemolymph around their bodies via an open circulatory system. They breathe with a tracheal system. The tracheal system consists of the main air tubes called trachea and then the tracheoles, which are very fine branches of trachea that are in contact with every cell. Spiracles are the holes in the body that allow for the gaseous exchange of material (mainly oxygen) to occur between the insect and the outside world. (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011). Bumblebees have six legs, two pairs of membranous wings and compound eyes. During flight a counter current system that normally prevents heat loss is circumvented to enhance abdominal heat loss. (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011).
Like all insects Bumblebees move hemolymph around their bodies via an open circulatory system. They breathe with a tracheal system. The tracheal system consists of the main air tubes called trachea and then the tracheoles, which are very fine branches of trachea that are in contact with every cell. Spiracles are the holes in the body that allow for the gaseous exchange of material (mainly oxygen) to occur between the insect and the outside world. (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011). Bumblebees have six legs, two pairs of membranous wings and compound eyes. During flight a counter current system that normally prevents heat loss is circumvented to enhance abdominal heat loss. (PJ Gullen & PS Cranston 2011).
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