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Working Lunch


Working Lunch
Photo Information
Copyright: iris'hues ss (iris) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 409 W: 41 N: 784] (2478)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-25
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon SX100 IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): More of my Favourite Pictures, Alex99 favorite shots [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-07-04 7:04
Viewed: 537
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hi friends,
Honey bees are a subset of bees, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of colonial nests out of wax. Honey bees are the only extant members of the tribe Apini, all in the genus Apis. Currently, there are only seven recognized species of honey bee with a total of 44 subspecies (Engel, 1999) though historically, anywhere from six to eleven species have been recognized.
The vast majority of adult honey bees in any colony are female worker bees. The jobs of the worker bees are: tending and feeding young bees (larvae), making honey, making royal jelly and beebread to feed larvae, producing wax, cooling the hive by fanning wings, gathering and storing pollen, nectar and water, guarding the hive, building, cleaning and repairing the comb, and feeding and taking care of the queen and drones. In part, the job the worker honey bee performs on any given day depends on its age.
The male members of the colony, the drones, are somewhat larger and make up only about five percent of the hive population. Drones are fed royal jelly, and develop in a slightly larger cell than worker bees from unfertilized eggs. Drones remain in the pupal stage for 15 days, so they don't emerge until day 24. Drones have huge compound eyes that meet at the top of their head and an extra segment in their antennae. In comparison to worker bees, drones have wider bodies and their abdomens are rounded rather than pointed. Drones, like all other male bees and wasps, do not have stingers.
It is difficult to distinguish the queen from others, since the Queen has a slightly larger body.So I am not able to confirm the whether this one is a Queen or a Drone. Never-the –less while searching for notes, I found the emergence of the Queen bee in the hive quite interesting and thought of sharing this with you.
I also found it rather interesting that the sunlight added a blue hue to the wings of the bee.
When conditions are favorable for swarming or when the old queen starts to fail, the worker bees of a colony will begin to develop one or more new queens. The queen will develop from an egg (or sometimes very young larva) identical to eggs which will develop into worker bees. The young queen develops differently because she is more heavily fed royal jelly, a protein-rich secretion from glands on the heads of young workers. (All honey bee larvae are fed some royal jelly for the first few days after hatching but only queen larvae are fed on it exclusively.) As a result of the difference in diet, the queen will develop into a sexually mature female, unlike the worker bees.
When a young queen emerges, she will generally seek out her rivals and attempt to kill them. Unlike the worker bees, the queen's stinger is not barbed. The queen can sting repeatedly without dying. The workers of the colony may, on occasion, thwart the young queen in her attempt to kill the rivals. For example, during the swarm season, workers may separate young queens, allowing the extra queen(s) to leave with afterswarms.
When one queen survives in a colony, she will fly out on a sunny, warm day to a "drone congregation area" where she will mate with 12-15 drones. If the weather holds, she may return to the drone congregation area for several days until she is fully mated. The young queen stores the sperm in her spermatheca. She will selectively release sperm from that one mating flight for the remaining 2-7 years of her life.
The young queen has only a limited time to mate. If she is unable to fly for several days because of bad weather and remains unmated, she will become a "drone layer." Drone-laying queens usually mean the death of the colony, because the workers have no fertilized (female) larvae from which to raise a replacement.
I know the notes have got really lengthy.But then you have a choice:)
Thanks for looking.
--------------------------------
Ref:
http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/ahb/inf3.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_bee
Miss_Piggy, maurydv, eqshannon, jaycee, Amadeo, gracious, uleko, Jamesp, goldyrs, ramthakur, rcrick, Ken52, marhowie, mayuresh, CeltickRanger, Alex99, Luis52, mvdisco, eng55, Argus has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To goldyrs: Thank you!iris 1 07-05 01:38
To Miss_Piggy: Hiiris 1 07-05 01:36
To Jamesp: Hiiris 1 07-05 01:33
To uleko: Dark Wings...iris 1 07-05 01:25
To jaycee: Colours ...Indiairis 1 07-05 01:16
To bneloy: BG...iris 1 07-05 01:14
To PaulH: Even i thought...iris 1 07-05 01:08
To maurydv: Thank You:)iris 1 07-05 00:49
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Critiques [Translate]

Fantastica macro, eccellenti POV e composizione con lo splendido primo piano del fiore e dell'insetto e la prospettiva dell'ambiente con l'altro fiore sullo sfondo, straordinarie nitidezza e definizione dei dettagli, magnifici i colori. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

Hallo Silpa
Great image with lovely strong and vibrant colours and detail. If I am correct this is the same flower the dragonfly for Ramthakur was captured one. A beautiful display of colours and not forgetting to mention the super clarity and sharpness in which you have captured the bee. I really cannot find fault and must give you a round of applause on this one. It is really gorgeous.
Thanks for sharing this beauty.
Best of regards.
Anna

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1058 W: 26 N: 3155] (11345)
  • [2008-07-04 7:25]
  • [+]

Hi Iris,
i did have time to read all your note, thanks :o) Very interesting too, especially the part about the Queen seeking out and killing rival queens...very Shakespearean. Back to the image.
As usual, you have found a very colourful and vibrant setting for your subject. The detail and clarity are both very good, as is the composition. DOF seems very good too, pretty much perfect, allowing enough detail for the flower in the background to remian recognisable but not distracting. It is also well placed, adding colour to the green to balance the photo nicely.
A great posting all round in a style which is fast becoming easily recognisable as yours, my friend.
Have a restful and productive weekend.
tfs
Paul

I shall be psoting a bee image today even if I cannot find the ID...I have been looking for a while now...but perhaps someone will know it...now this one is easy to ID eh? Very sharp and super clear. Well mine is as well but mine is either a baby or some other kind....as in this image, when taken so well it is a time saving picture!
Bob

Very sharp and beautiful composition. I just wish a smoother background.

Hi Silpa,

This is one of those rare picture perfect shots. The bee on the flower is amazing with unbelievable clarity. Colors are beautiful as only colors in India seem to be. Fine details of the insect and the plant. A very lovely composition. I love it!

Jane

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 402 W: 4 N: 1162] (4078)
  • [2008-07-04 10:32]

Hello Silpa,
Excellent sharp macro shot, with great colors, good composition .
Best regards
Siggi

  • Great 
  • Amadeo Gold Star Critiquer [C: 211 W: 0 N: 755] (3323)
  • [2008-07-04 10:57]

Hola Iris, buen macro, una toma con una buena composición, nitida y con buen color. Un saludo. Un saludo

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1312 W: 70 N: 2765] (9171)
  • [2008-07-04 11:22]

Hello Iris,
What a beautiful clear colours and excellent sharpness in this photo. Even a splendid BG.
Fantastic POV, composition and DOF.
Have a great weekend,
Peter

Hello Iris,
Super beauty of macro! my compliment!
A very cheerful image with all those wonderful colour apart from the perfect captured of the subject!
a very pleasing presentation from a good and talented photographer of nature!
best regards and take care
Tony

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2543 W: 170 N: 7734] (24475)
  • [2008-07-04 11:32]
  • [+]

Hello Iris,
This is a lovely capture showing a very beautiful and intersting Bee with very dark wings. I like its pose on the pretty flower. Wonderful bright colours, great focus amd very sharp details. A lovely composition too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1296 W: 0 N: 5056] (15074)
  • [2008-07-04 13:44]
  • [+]

Hi Silpa

Great shot - vivid colours and superb detail. I love the way you have caught the light on the wings.

James

Hiya Silpa!
An applause, a standing ovation is more like it!
A superb shot, my friend, every aspect is perfect!
very well done!
Goldy

Bright and cheerful image of the Honey Bee busy on a pretty flower, Silpa.
The slightly uppish POV shows the insect with its face buried into the flower.
The focus is spot on here and the colours are rich and pleasing.
Well done and thanks.
Ram

Hello Iris,

What an absolute stunner, the detail is just amazing, simply beautiful colours, totally inspired to get out into the garden only problem its pouring with rain at the moment, really nice work, all the best,
Cheers Rick :)

Hi Iris,
Very nice macro with great colors and details good DOF and composition
very well done
TFS and Regards
Jean-Michel

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1760 W: 28 N: 5135] (16816)
  • [2008-07-05 7:36]

Hi Silpa,
Wonderful shot of this Bee on the charming red and yellow flower. Great pose captured of the Bee as it sucks nectar and I like this natural setting very much. Very neat and sharp image with lovely bright colours and superb lighting. It is so pleasing to the eyes. Brilliantly done. Excellent DOF, POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 663 W: 98 N: 1260] (4181)
  • [2008-07-05 7:51]

Outstanding bee and flower photo. The colors are so vivid and the details are so sharp. Outstanding exposure. I really like how the entire flower and bee are in perfect focus against the blurred background creating a photo with perfect DOF. BRAVO!

Hello Iris,
Similar to "Lady in Sunshine" & "Blue for You" with the beautiful reds & yellows of the flowers filling your frame with color.
Well composed & a great POV of the bee with the wings very nicely displayed. Great DOF, light, and details..
Well done & TFS!
Howard

Hello Silpa,
wonderful and lovely shot having lovely vibrant colours,superb composition and sharpness,well done,
tfs

Hello Iris,

Not at home, only marking.
Mariki

hello Silpa

very very beautiful close-up image of this Bee,
with very fine POV, DOF and framing, beautiful luminosity
and colours of the image, great contrast sharpness and details,

TFS for this wonderful image

Asbed

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1082 W: 6 N: 2999] (11116)
  • [2008-07-06 14:12]

Hi Iris,a great colorfest!!!I'm surprising from the incredible quality of details,and from the colors taken whitout the direct light of the ray of sun,very high quality work,mt best best compliments,Luciano

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3138 W: 148 N: 4731] (15287)
  • [2008-07-07 0:29]

Hi Irishues.
I am amazed with our wonderful close-up picture. Subject and quality of the shot are superb. Terrific details and sharpness of the fine flower and insect. Colour tones are splendid as well as the remote smooth BG. Bravo. Well done.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Luis52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1025 W: 5 N: 2876] (10399)
  • [2008-07-07 15:46]

Hola Iris.
Bellos tonos de colores en esta hermosa foto Macro. Exelente pose y alta nitidez e iluminacion. La nota escrita es de gran valor educativo.
I love honey bees, they are always working all the time.
Luis52.

Hi Iris,
Wanderful catch and great composition, beautiful macro picture nicely presented with great colors and sharp picture, Excellent done.
Compliments
Michel

Hi Iris, fantastic colorful macro with lovely busy bee and wonderful flower, excellent details and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • eng55 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 415 W: 3 N: 433] (1345)
  • [2008-07-11 2:11]

Hi Iris,
Magnificent macro shot.I liked POV,vivid colors,clear details,sharpness and composition a lot.Excellent work!
Thanks for posting.

hello iris,
this post of yours reminds me that i had this beautiful plant two years back in my rooftop garden, excellent pov and lovely colors, liked the composition too,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hi,
This is a real splash of colors! What a beautiful macro! Details are excellent and so is composition! I like this blurred background with the second flower. This is very well done. Greetings from sunny Quebec :)!
Claudine

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-13 21:49]

Hello Iris

The wings are beautiful,the detail is terrific and look almost painted.
Wonderful rich and vibrant colours.
Well composed in the frame.
The focus is spot on.
TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2707 W: 139 N: 7809] (24333)
  • [2008-07-15 3:20]

Hello Silpa,
I missed this one during my absence.
Great capture of a Honey Bee worker at work (I like the title!).
Fine sharpness, lighting and colours, the bee and teh beautiful flower contrasting well against the OOF natural BG.
Thanks for sharing this beauty,
Ivan

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