When a new bumblebee queen emerges from her natal nest in late summer or early fall, she makes a so-called ‘nuptial’ flight.

The insect order Hymenoptera includes wasps and bees. Bees evolved from a waspish ancestor a long time ago and constitute a separate lineage, which is not the focus of this essay, although some comparisons are quite interesting.

Some time ago, I wrote about animals preening, mostly emphasizing the physical and social functions of that activity. Now I focus on how the digits (fingers and toes) are used for grooming and preening.