When a honey bee visits flowers, it collects both nectar and pollen from the plant. Pollen is used as a source of protein for the hive. In order to facilitate transport, the bee compacts the pollen into the bristly hair of its back leg. The image below shows the tibia's hairs that allow for pollen collection.
Below are various pollen grains under a scanning electron microscope.
Author/Photographer/Artist: Dartmouth Electron Microscope Facility
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