Posts Tagged: proboscis

Cleaning the Tongue: A, B, C

So here you are, a honey bee seeking nectar from an unopened citrus blossom. And then your tongue (proboscis) becomes all sticky with pollen, nectar...

A honey bee takes a break and cleans her proboscis (tongue) after foraging on a citrus blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee takes a break and cleans her proboscis (tongue) after foraging on a citrus blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Break over and time to get back to work! A worker bee and a mandarin blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Break over and time to get back to work! A worker bee and a mandarin blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This 'B' Gets an 'A' for Good Grooming

This "B" gets an "A" for good grooming. We recently watched a honey bee land on the edge of a planter. "Hmm," we thought. "Why is she landing there?...

A honey bee lands on the edge of a planter and proceeds to clean her tongue (proboscis). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee lands on the edge of a planter and proceeds to clean her tongue (proboscis). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee removing the particles from her tongue so she can keep foraging. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Honey bee removing the particles from her tongue so she can keep foraging. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Am I good to go? The honey bee finishes cleaning her tongue and stares at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Am I good to go? The honey bee finishes cleaning her tongue and stares at the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Tongue in Cheek

Have you ever looked closely at a fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) and seen its proboscis, aka tongue or feeding tube?If you stay still and don't...

Proboscis or tongue of a fiery skipper dipped in nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Proboscis or tongue of a fiery skipper dipped in nectar. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Colorful fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Colorful fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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