A Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) carries pollen back to its hive in the pollen basket (the yellow area on its leg). A honey bee moistens the forelegs with a protruding tongue and brushes the pollen that has collected on head, body and forward appendages to the hind legs. In the hive, pollen is used as a protein source necessary during brood-rearing.Photo: Muhammad Mahdi Karim