Antennae supply sense of smell and touch. Grooves on front legs clean antennae. Hairs on head, thorax, and legs collect pollen. Pollen baskets on rear legs carry collected pollen. The tube-like proboscis sucks nectar, honey, and water, and curls back under the head.
Mandibles crush and form wax for comb-building.
A honey sac provides temporary storage of honey. Enzymes in honey sac begin transformation of nectar to honey. Glands in abdomen produce beeswax, which is secreted as scales on rear segments of body. Long spines on middle legs remove wax scales from glands. Pronged claws on each foot cling to flowers.