Pollen basket
- Pronunciation
- /POL-uhn BAS-kit/
- Category
- Anatomy
- Singular
- Pollen basket
- Plural
- Pollen baskets
Definition
A smooth, slightly concave area on the outer surface of the hind leg of certain bees, surrounded by long, curved hairs, used to transport pollen back to the hive.
Etymology
Derived from 'pollen', from Latin 'pollen', meaning 'fine flour', and 'basket', meaning a receptacle for carrying items.
Example
The honeybee used its pollen basket to collect large amounts of pollen from the flowers.
Synonyms
Related Terms
- Pollen
- Bee
- Hind leg
- Pollination
Usage Notes
Pollen baskets are particularly well developed in social bees like honeybees and bumblebees, facilitating efficient pollen collection and transport.