Trying to identify a bee species from an illustration

[dragonblade71]

I have a drawing of a bee which I did a few years ago. The drawing was made from a photograph in a nature magazine. I'm wondering if it's possible to identify which species of bee it is from the artwork? Unfortunately, I don't have the magazine or the reference photograph anymore.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dragonblade712003/2082782923/

I'm curious because there's a business not far from me that sells honey products. They also have a partly enclosed bee colony which you can observe behind glass. They sell various merchandise too. I thought I would have a go at making some greeting cards featuring this drawing and approaching these guys to see if they'd stock the card on their shelves. Wouldn't hurt to try. I had the idea of including the species name on the back of the card in italics.

 

[myrmecophile]

Looks like a honeybee, Apis mellifera.

 

[dragonblade71]

Looks like a honeybee, Apis mellifera.

Yea, I did a Google search and came to the same conclusion. I guess those fat looking legs at the rear (where it stores pollen) are a bit of a giveaway.

 

[Mat]

I'd agree, a honeybee (Apis). Looking at the picture, I suspect the photo was of a "guard bee" telling others that intruders were near, the high abdomen pose, wing fanning and the exposed alarm gland towards the end of the abdomen are typical of this behaviour.

 

[dragonblade71]

Looking at the picture, I suspect the photo was of a "guard bee" telling others that intruders were near, the high abdomen pose, wing fanning and the exposed alarm gland towards the end of the abdomen are typical of this behaviour.

Wow, that's very insightful. You must be very knowledgable about their body language. The next time I see a bee strike that pose, I'll be extra careful.