Bees AnatomyBees Antenna It’s in the eyes Pre-pygidial fimbria Wings of the bee

Images and Contributor Author Gary Taylor ◦

Thyreus waroonensis with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
The one, two, three of the bee antenna

In zoology, the word antenna (plural antennae) describes either of a pair of long, thin sensory appendages on the head of a bee, other insects, crustaceans and some arthropods.

Stenotritidae (Ctenocolletes) with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Stenotritidae (Ctenocolletes) with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Stenotritidae (Ctenocolletes) with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Stenotritidae (Ctenocolletes) with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Stenotritidae (Ctenocolletes) with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor

The word antenna is derived from the Latin antemna (a feminine noun for yard of a ship; yardarm). The antemna on a Roman sailing ship, was a type of horizontal mast-mounted spar designed to spread square-rigged sails.

In bees (and other insects) there are three segments to the antenna. These are described as

  1. the scape (at the base of the antenna),
  2. the pedicel (in the middle), and
  3. the flagellum (at the end)
Antenna of the male be
Antenna of the male bee
Antenna of the female bee
Antenna of the female bee

The female bees ae described as having 12 antennal segments (including the scape and pedicel), whereas the male bees have 13 antennal segments.

Source: Antenna drawings based on photos by C. Ritner. Exotic Bee ID. USDA APHIS Identification Technology Program (ITP) and Utah State University. Fort Collins, CO., 7 May 2022, http://idtools.org/id/bees/exotic

When observing a bee, you can see how their antennae are constantly on the move. With the ability to move individually, the antenna contain receptors for touch, smell and taste. This enables the bee to detect temperature and humidity.

Hylaeinae with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Hylaeinae with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Hylaeinae with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Hylaeinae with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Thyreus waroonensis with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Hylaeus violaceus with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Hylaeus violaceus with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Hylaeus violaceus with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Hylaeus violaceus with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Banksia bee with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor
Amegilla chlorocyanea with closeup view of the antenna © Gary Taylor

And when you think you have seen the bee’s antenna, along comes one with “baubles”…

Trichocolletes, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor
Trichocolletes, Midwest WA © Gary Taylor

The photographs of the bee species on this page courtesy of Gary Taylor.

Footnote & References

  1. Antenna drawings based on photos by C. Ritner. Exotic Bee ID. USDA APHIS Identification Technology Program (ITP) and Utah State University. Fort Collins, CO., 7 May 2022, http://idtools.org/id/bees/exotic
  2. Selection of bees, photographs © Gary Taylor, Western Australia
  3. Segments in the insect antenna—counting one, two, three!, by Mattingly, Beargrass Press, https://www.beargrasspress.com/segments-insect-antenna-counting-one-two-three/
  4. A quick-start guide to honey bee antennae, American Bee Journal, https://americanbeejournal.com/quick-start-guide-honey-bee-antennae/
  5. About Bees, Bee morphology, Exotic Bee ID, https://idtools.org/id/bees/exotic/bees_morph.php
  6. Honey bee anatomy, by Zachary Huang, 20 Feb 2021, Bee The Best!, https://bees.msu.edu/honey-bee-anatomy/

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