Scanning electron micrograph of pollen grains captured by hairs on a leg of a honey bee, Apis mellifera. The picture shows, left, pollen grains of a garden Michaelmas daisy, their outer wall with short spikes. The spikes are captured by very fine hairs on the bristles that grow out from the bee's exoskeleton. The pollen is transferred by a series of complex movements, including moistening the dry grains with honey, to the pollen basket on the rear legs. Honey bees do not collect pollen at random; an individual will be faithful to a particular plant species on each foraging trip. Daisies (family Asteraceae) also provide nectar, the raw material of honey. Pollen is a very nutritious food, containing up to 30% protein by weight; honey is a high energy carbohydrate food. Expensive for the plant to produce, they are a just reward for the bee's work as a pollinator. Mag x560 at 10x8