Saving a Starving Bumblebee Queen
Pamplico, SC
March 29, 2001 Bumblebees have been quite scarce so far this season, though I have been watching carefully, and trying to take photos. I saw one in a holly bush and a couple more on fruit blossoms. Most of the time, a closer look shows the suspected bumbler to bee a carpenter. This lady was about the fourth or fifth seen for this season.
After a warm spell the weather had turned clear and we had two frosty nights that killed off a lot of buds. Though it warmed rapidly to the lower 60s on the 29th of March, our honeybees were getting nothing, nectarwise, as evidenced by a highly grumpy mood. (By contrast, the next day, when more fresh buds had opened, the bee yards were a roaring flight, nectar was dripping from frames and the bees were content.)
This bumbler must have been caught by the loss of her feed, and she was obviously in deep trouble. She was lying on top of a hive, but could not fly, and would only feebly wave or move her legs in a kind of dragging crawl when prodded. I think her stomach was empty and she did not have the energy to use her wing muscles, though she was in a nice warm spot in the sunshine.
We dribbled a little honey on the hive cover, to see what she would do. She immediately put out her tongue and began to drink deeply. In a few minutes she was more active and had the strength to lift her body. In about ten minutes she flew away.
I'd love to hear further comments from any bumblebee experts on her behavior and whether we actually saved her? We have not yet positively identified her either. Is this impatiens?