How do bees gather pollen?

Bees gather pollen primarily by using their legs and mouthparts, which involves a complex process that ensures efficient collection and transportation. As bees visit flowers to collect nectar, they brush against the flower's anthers, where pollen grains are deposited onto their bodies.

To collect this pollen, bees have specialized structures, such as pollen baskets (or corbiculae) on their hind legs, where they pack the collected pollen. They also use their mouthparts to manipulate and clean pollen from their bodies before transferring it into these baskets. This process maximizes their ability to gather and transport pollen back to the hive, where it is used as a protein source for the colony.

In contrast, the notion of sucking pollen, stealing from other bees, or spreading it as they fly does not accurately reflect the natural behavior of bees in pollen collection. Instead of sucking it, bees effectively collect pollen by physically interacting with flowers, showcasing their important role in pollination and supporting the ecosystem.