Solomon's seal flowers produce a lot of nectar, so they are a powerful attraction for bumblebees - even if they do have to hang upside down to reach it. Only the bee species with the longest tongues can reach the nectar - this one (Bombus lucorum?) is just about to leave the flower and its long, curved tongue is still extended.
Here you can just see the extended tongue of the bee through the translucent tubular petal
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Superb shots.
ReplyDeleteIt was very honest of you to correct your miss ID............bet nobody would have known differently! Have a good day.
WOW! Obviously the ancients didn't know about the length of the bumblebee's tongue. Many plants would have been named after it :)
ReplyDeleteAbout your earlier post, a rose is a rose, and a poppy is a poppy to ignoramuses like me, anyway!
In my experience someone always knows, Adrian - best to get in a pre-emptive confession!
ReplyDeleteI wonder where the tongue goes when it's retracted, lotusleaf?
ReplyDeleteLast year I was surprised at the length of the hairy-footed flower bee's tongue, probing yellow flag in the local park. Like you, I wonder at the mechanism for retracting it. Telescopic perhaps?
ReplyDeletefantastic shots here Phil,I want to draw bees now!!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! What a superb shot of the bumblebee with his tongue extended. Ain't nature wonderful!
ReplyDeleteMarvellous pictures again Phil.
ReplyDeleteHi Rob., when I find a dead one I'll do a bit of dissection and find out!
ReplyDeleteHi Claire, They're interesting insects to watch aren't they. Quite often they seem to just take a breather from ceaseless work, resting on a plant or a fence. I read somewhere that on warm days they can overheat and have to rest to cool down..
ReplyDeleteSure is, Swanscot - and so's digital photography for capturing an instant - I'd probably never have appreciated the length of the tongue if I'd been watching
ReplyDeleteThanks Toffeeapple..
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