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Story: Beekeeping

Taking nectar from a flower

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Taking nectar from a flower

Close-up, the head of a bee looks quite fearsome. However, the long tongue, called a proboscis, is merely used for collecting nectar from flowers.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10058309

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How to cite this page

Allan Gillingham, Beekeeping – Bee activities and communication, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/15744/taking-nectar-from-a-flower (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Allan Gillingham, published 1 March 2009.