Honey bee leg hairs grip onto pollen*

Honey bees are masters at collecting pollen that varies vastly in size and shape. Its strategy is to gradually form a pollen basket, a 2-mm pellet of pollen mixed with nectar that is skewered onto its leg hairs. In this experimental study, we collect and examine pollen baskets and film bees removing the baskets from their legs. Because of the high volume fraction of the basket, the pollen is in a shear-thickened state. Based on the rheological properties of the pollen basket, we rationalize the shear rates the honey bees must apply to the basket to remove it.