An asymmetric flyer

rcheshire (Rowland) · #1 09-07-2013, 12:06 AM

Going through some shots from last year, I came across this one. A resident under the back garden steps. The nest has been there for years and will probably remain so.

I may be mistaken and you may notice the asymmetry of the Bee's wings. SHe was flying around quite happily despite the handicap. The Right wing is stunted and no more than a transparent paddle. It appears to be split as well.

Perhaps this is more common than meets the eye.

Taken with a FujiFilm XPro-1 and macro lens - more of a close up than macro in my view.

EDIT: Image was rendered with Adobe RGB in Darktable (Linux). Must admit I prefer the intensity for shots like this.

pmrid (Peter) · #2 09-07-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcheshire

He was flying around quite happily despite the handicap.

The operatative word may well be "around".

Peter

rcheshire (Rowland) · #3 09-07-2013, 12:50 PM

indeed, Peter. SHe was doing quite well otherwise.

firstlight (Tony) · #4 10-07-2013, 02:10 PM

Not to be too pedantic, but I think the correct pronoun would be "she".

rcheshire (Rowland) · #5 10-07-2013, 02:56 PM

Thank you Tony! Rightly so and corrected.

rcheshire (Rowland) · #6 11-07-2013, 08:15 AM

I'm not sure that the limited extent of deformity in this case is due to DWV, but then I wouldn't know. The article below is informative and mentions the issues surrounding bee populations and the implications for food production. If not for the bee we might starve to death.

The reason for posting this image was empathetic. Obviously, the bee with its deformed wing compensates to aerodynamically perform the maneuvers required of its survival in the wild and bee society. The fact that it was collecting pollen and appeared otherwise healthy, suggests that it had been very successful.

http://vir.sgmjournals.org/content/92/2/370.full