Variation in Honey Stomach Size

Gastro-Intestinal Tract of Honey Bee Worker

This image helps to illustrate the differences in size one might expect to see in the honey stomach of a honey bee worker. The worker on the right has a larger volume of nectar or honey contained in its honey stomach as compared to the worker on the left. The honey stomach is surrounded by muscle fibers which contract when it is empty.
Because nectar is nearly impossible to collect without also collecting traces of pollen, the honey stomach may also contain small amounts of pollen. If you look closely at the honey stomachs in this image you may notice that the liquid being held in it is not clear but slightly cloudy. That cloudy material is pollen.

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