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Bumblebee
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Paras Bhalla (parasbhalla)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 317 W: 0 N: 814]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (3170) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2009-09-27 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Camera: Sony Cybershot DSC P150 |
| Exposure: f/2.8, 1/80 seconds |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2009-10-07 3:58 |
| Viewed: 180 |
| Points: 28 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Information on "Bumble bee" from Free Web Dictionary "WiKiPedia":
A bumblebee (or bumble bee) is any member of the bee genus Bombus, in the family Apidae. There are over 250 known species, existing primarily in the Northern Hemisphere.
Bumblebees are social insects that are characterized by black and yellow body hairs, often in bands. However, some species have orange or red on their bodies, or may be entirely black.[1] Another obvious (but not unique) characteristic is the soft nature of the hair (long, branched setae), called pile, that covers their entire body, making them appear and feel fuzzy. They are best distinguished from similarly large, fuzzy bees by the form of the female hind leg, which is modified to form a corbicula; a shiny concave surface that is bare, but surrounded by a fringe of hairs used to transport pollen (in similar bees, the hind leg is completely hairy, and pollen grains are wedged into the hairs for transport).
Like their relatives the honey bees, bumblebees feed on nectar and gather pollen to feed their young.
Biology
The blood or hemolymph, as in other arthropods, is carried in an open circulatory system. The body organs, "heart" (dorsal aorta), muscles, etc. are surrounded in a reservoir of blood. The dorsal aorta does pulse blood through its long tube, though, so there is a circulation of sorts.
In fertilised queens the ovaries are activated when the queen lays her egg. It passes along the oviduct to the vagina. In the vagina there is a container called the spermatheca. This is where the queen stores sperm from her mating. Before she lays the egg, she will decide whether to use sperm from the spermatheca to fertilise it or not. Non-fertilised eggs grow into males, and only fertilised eggs grow into females and queens.
As in all animals, hormones play a big role in the growth and development of the bumblebee. The hormones that stimulate the development of the ovaries are suppressed in the other female worker bees while the queen remains dominant. Salivary glands in the head secrete saliva which is mixed with the nectar and pollen. Saliva is also mixed into the nest materials to soften them. The fat body is a nutritional store; before hibernation, queens eat as much as they can to enlarge their fat body, and the fat in the cells is used up during hibernation.
Like all bee tongues, the bumblebee tongue (the proboscis) is composed of many different mouthparts acting as a unit, specialised to suck up nectar via capillary action. When at rest or flying, the proboscis is kept folded under the head. The abdomen is divided into dorsal tergites and ventral sternites. Wax is secreted from glands on the sternites.
The brightly-coloured pile of the bumble bee is a form of aposematic signal. Depending on the species and morph, these colours can range from entirely black, to bright yellow, red, orange, white, and pink. Thick pile can also act as insulation to keep the bee warm in cold weather. Further, when flying a bee builds up an electrostatic charge, and as flowers are usually well grounded, pollen is attracted to the bee's pile when it lands. When a pollen covered bee enters a flower, the charged pollen is preferentially attracted to the stigma because it is better grounded than the other parts of the flower.
A bumblebee does not have ears, and it is not known whether, or how, a bumblebee could hear sound waves passing through the air, however they can feel the vibrations of sounds through wood and other materials.
(For more information, please consult WiKiPedia) |
Mikolaj, marianas, maurydv, boreocypriensis, nglen, Argus, bahadir, cirano has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- joska
(5396)
- [2009-10-07 4:48]
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Hello paras,
It is an interesting photo of this agile Bombus, congratulations!
Ciao Paras. Best compliments for the sharp you've obtained with this species always in movement. Nice compo.
Roberto
Hello Paras! Nice bee, very nice flowers, good capture, very fine colors and sharpness. Good luck!
Paras
Your Bumblebee is very good!
Lovely colors, sharp details, great shot.
Horia
Ciao Paras, lovely bumble bee on a beautiful flower, wonderful natural colors and good details, very well done, ciao Silvio
Hello Paras,
a good picture of this Bombus taken from an interesting POV not easy for an adequate DOF, very beautiful natural colours, i like this dynamic composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio
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- Solrac
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 58 W: 0 N: 32]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-s.gif)
(210) - [2009-10-07 11:06]
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Buen encuadre de esta abeja en la flor con gran detalle y color
buen trabajo
un saludo
Namastay Paras,
A fine macro capture of a bumble bee from great POV,
with excellent details and wonderful composition.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram
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- nglen
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2907 W: 34 N: 8619]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(32124) - [2009-10-07 11:18]
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Hi Paras . This is a fine macro of the Bee . You have taken it wit hsuch sharp focusing and fine detail. Along with bright colours. The wings show up so well TFS.
Nick..
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- siggi
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1370 W: 56 N: 4704]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(16174) - [2009-10-07 11:50]
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Hello Paras.
A wonderful fuzzy Bumblebee on a beautiful flower. Excellent colors and details of both. I love the little wings and the textures.
Best regards Siggi
hello Paras
very nice composition with very good details and beautiful colours
greeting lou
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- Argus
(34927)
- [2009-10-07 12:38]
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Hello Paras,
A fine capture of a Bumblebee on its way out of a flower. Despite the difficult POV most of its features are shown with excellent sharpness in a pleasing composition with the flower against a contrasting neutral BG.
Thanks and all the best,
Ivan
Beautiful close up of a bumblebee Paras!
Great details and nice composition.
TFS and regards, Bahadır
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- cirano
(4878)
- [2009-10-07 14:37]
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Slav Paras,
A very good macro with excellent sharp details and colors.Interesting POV.
TFS.
Dūrzan
