Docking manouevre

The third and possibly the last (for now) in the flying bee series. This one is manouevring in to the Nectaroscordum flower to refuel on high octane nectar. The reward must be worthwhile, as it takes a fair amount of flying skill to approach the flower from below, then hang on long enough to fuel up, then repeat the manouevre at the next flower, and the next......

The bee looks like it has just four legs. The two front legs are out of sight, pitched forward of the antennae, since the bee goes into the flower feet first, feeling for something to hook onto. The pendent flower full of nectar is a clever strategy by the plant to maximise its chances of cross-pollination. Few insects other than bumblebees have the agility in the air to access the flower and its precious cargo of nectar and pollen. The bumblebees spend all day commuting between the flowers transferring pollen from one to another, and the supply of nectar is constantly topped up to maintain the attraction.

This was taken in the morning with pretty poor light - and that was before the rain started. It's not as sharp as I would have liked, but it does convey something of the challenge the bee faces in visiting these flowers.

People have asked me about Nectaroscordums. They are bulb plants that readily self-seed (the bees have done their work) and are easy to grow. They grow to 3 or four feet in height and the flowering season lasts a few weeks. They do well in shade as well as more open situations. The flowers are borne in chandelier-like umbels.

Edit: I took down the original version when I noticed a white border had appeared. I've cropped this out. Apologies to anyone who viewed this previously and to bigphelps who commented on the original.