3.3K views · 486 reactions | The beauty of a barrel cactus. Many different barrel cactus species are blooming on grounds right now. We can’t get enough!  | Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | Facebook

Barrel cactus flowers are ideal for observing bee behavior up close...🐝 Male bees dive headfirst into the dense cluster of stamens in search of nectar, often disappearing completely from view for 10–30 seconds before resurfacing, covered in pollen. Female bees, in contrast, move more deliberately across the tops of the stamens, actively collecting pollen with their legs and bodies. They gather this pollen to bring back to their nests, where it will serve as a food source for their developing of