It’s that time of year - people asking us about #bumblebees - WHY THEY’RE SEEING THEM ON THE GROUND - so here’s a thread to explain what they’re up to. Please #repost. Every #queen that survives means a new colony that gets to exist & produce new queen #bees for next year! This is important! 1/9 - ThreadSky

thebeeguy.bsky.social • 7 days ago

It’s that time of year - people asking us about #bumblebees - WHY THEY’RE SEEING THEM ON THE GROUND - so here’s a thread to explain what they’re up to.
Please #repost.
Every #queen that survives means a new colony that gets to exist & produce new queen #bees for next year!
This is important!
1/9

Comments

jolly-angelina.bsky.social•7 days ago

@threadwriter.bsky.social please unroll

elmiller.bsky.social•7 days ago

It’s the time of year to carry small amounts of sugar water on your person at all times folks!

I use a throughly rinsed out soya sauce bottle from sushi

just-me123.bsky.social•7 days ago

Saw one this morning doing the zig zag : )

thebeeguy.bsky.social•7 days ago

Spoiler Alert!
Quick version:
Bumblebee Queens just out of hibernation.
Hungry and house-hunting.
Rest often between flights.
Don’t move or help for an hour unless in immediate danger!
Flowers best option.
50/50 white sugar/water next best option - NOT HONEY!
Don’t bring her inside.
🌍🐝
2/9

jolly-angelina.bsky.social•7 days ago

@threadreader.bsky.social please unroll

thebeeguy.bsky.social•7 days ago

#Bumblebee queens emerge in early spring from #hibernation and immediately need to feed (wouldn’t you!) - that’s why early flowering plants are so important. Apart from feeding their mission at this time is to find a suitable site to establish a nest. Hence you will observe queens flying low…
3/9

thebeeguy.bsky.social•7 days ago

…to the ground zig-zagging across the landscape - they’re house-hunting. Stopping to explore in long grass and vegetation, hollows in trees, stone walls, under sheds and even compost heaps. During this time #bumblebee queens spend a lot of their time resting between flights. 4/9

thebeeguy.bsky.social•7 days ago

These ‘between flight stopovers’ can last for up to an hour and #bees are not always careful about where they take them - sometimes the middle of a footpath can be the ‘ideal’ spot!
So if you see a big #bumblebee chilling on the ground don’t always presume she needs rescuing! 5/9

thebeeguy.bsky.social•7 days ago

As with sleeping dogs leave resting #bumblebees lie - for up to an hour before intervening. (Unless of course she is in imminent danger whereby she should be carefully moved to a safe place). However if after about an hour she is still present then she may need some assistance. 6/9

thebeeguy.bsky.social•7 days ago

In this case preference is to move her to a nearby source of #nectar - a #flower! A #dandelion!
If no flowers are nearby she can be offered a 50/50 mix of white sugar and water.
NEVER offer her honey as although it would seem to be the obvious action honey can contain pathogens that may…
7/9

fadderlarks.bsky.social•7 days ago

Interesting thread, thank you.

fadderlarks.bsky.social•7 days ago

Interesting thread, thank you.

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