Solvin Zankl / Honeybee (Apis mellifera) rear view of abdomen, Kiel, Germany.

Jen Guyton / Meerkat (Suricata suricatta) barely alive, with Cape porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) quills through his abdomen. Kalahari Desert, South Africa.

Alex Hyde / Green Dock Beetle (Gastrophysa viridula) female with huge abdomen swollen with eggs. Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK. May.

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Small red damselflies {Ceriagrion tenellum} covered in morning dew, Arne (RSPB) Nature Reserve, Dorset, UK. August. Did you know? Male red damselflies have a red abdomen (not surprisingly), females ar...

Ann & Steve Toon / Meerkat / Suricate (Suricata suricatta) pregnant female standing on hind legs, with swollen abdomen exposed, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa

Piotr Naskrecki / Spiked Spider (Gasteracantha sp) their abdomen, or opisthosoma, is heavily sclerotized and armed with hard spines possibly to protect against birds and lizards, Solomon Islands

Gerry Ellis / Wandering Spider (Cupiennius coccineus) with egg sac under abdomen, not visible in photo, Mesoamerica

Phil Savoie / Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) female bee bringing in pollen load under her abdomen for brood cell, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK, May.

Phil Savoie / Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) female bee bringing in pollen load under her abdomen for brood cell Monmouthshire, Wales, UK, May..

Phil Savoie / Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) female bee bringing in pollen load under her abdomen for brood cell Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. May.

Phil Savoie / Patchwork leafcutter bee (Megachile centuncularis) gathering pollen on scopa (special hairs beneath abdomen) on Common marigold (Calendula officinalis),Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. July.

Phil Savoie / Red mason bee (Osmia bicornis) female bee bringing in pollen load under her abdomen for brood cell Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. May