The Life of the Individual 
125 
abdomen and also receive on the 
pollen combs (Fig. 64) the pollen 
collected by the second pair of 
legs. The pollen is moistened by 
the addition of fluid substances 
which come from the mouth and 
Casteel presents analyses (by Dun¬ 
bar) showing that honey is used for 
this purpose. 
The method of loading pollen 
on the pollen baskets has been 
variously described, it usually being 
stated that it is put in place by the 
second pair of legs. This is not the 
usual method, however, although a 
little pollen is added to the mass 
while the bee pats down its load 
with the second pair of legs (Fig. 
65). The loading is accomplished 
by the rubbing together of the 
inner surfaces of the hind legs 
(Figs. 66 and 67). It is removed 
from the pollen combs by the pecten combs, is pushed 
upward by pressure of the auricles and is forced against 
the distal ends of the tibiae and on into the pollen 
baskets from 
below, being 
pushed upward 
against any pol¬ 
len that may 
have been 
loaded previ¬ 
ously. The long 
lateral hairs of 
the pollen bas¬ 
kets help to re¬ 
tain the pollen 
Fio. 66. — Inner surface of 
left hind leg of worker. 
Fig. 67. — Flying bee loading the pollen baskets. 
