Bumble Bee Story.

[nightshade]

Hello Pauline,a well told tale.Are there more than one type of mite? I frequently see bumblebees grounded and buzzing furiously covered in mites these will now be rescued and bathed where ever possible (assume the wash was plain warm water)
I shall also be moving some of the buried flower-pot nests to see if a more suitable spot
sunny/dry can befound before the queens come out in the early spring,although there are still b/bees around today after the torrential rain we have had

[Susie]

What a lovely story and what a lovely person you must be to care so much about your bumbles, Pauline.

May I also say please keep us updated on how you and your bumbles progress.

[RobSutton]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Hello Pauline,a well told tale.Are there more than one type of mite? I frequently see bumblebees grounded and buzzing furiously covered in mites these will now be rescued and bathed where ever possible (assume the wash was plain warm water)

This idea seriously worries me. The mites you see on queen bumblebees in the autumn are not an infection, they are not parasites. It is simply the way in which the mites move from bumblebee nest to bumble nest.

There is evidence that in the nest they may help supress infection from moulds - so their presence in the nest is likely to be of benefit to the bees.

I'm not sure that anybody has looked but it is possible, maybe likely, that as the mites stay on the queens overwinter they help protect her for fungal infections - it is after-all to their benefit that the queen survives to form a new nest the following year.

Unless anybody can produce documented evidence that removing the mites from bumblebees increases they survival overwinter, and of their nests the following spring, then I suggest, strongly, that washing the bees is more likely to do harm than good.

It might make you feel good and make a good story but I think you need to really consider carefully what you hope to achieve by doing this.

[paulinemiller10]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Do you know what Pauline, that is one of the nicest things I've ever read on WAB. You've gone a long way in restoring my faith in human nature.
By the time I'd finished reading it, I had a real lump in my throat.
If only we were all as caring as that. That queen bumble DID know, I'm sure, that you were going to help her out.

I'm going to relay your story to the children in my environment club(with your permission of course) to get their reaction.
Of course I will also tell them that it's a job for bumble professionals like yourself and that although there is a small risk of being stung, it's best left to bee handlers.

Keep us updated Pauline,but for now-thank you-you've started my day off on a high.
Cheers

Julie

Hi Julie, So glad you enjoyed the bumble story, you are very welcome to use it for your environment club, it s nice to show young people that small living things matter too.

Glad you enjoyed it too Carol and Susie.
Pauline.

[paulinemiller10]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

This idea seriously worries me. The mites you see on queen bumblebees in the autumn are not an infection, they are not parasites. It is simply the way in which the mites move from bumblebee nest to bumble nest.

There is evidence that in the nest they may help supress infection from moulds - so their presence in the nest is likely to be of benefit to the bees.

I'm not sure that anybody has looked but it is possible, maybe likely, that as the mites stay on the queens overwinter they help protect her for fungal infections - it is after-all to their benefit that the queen survives to form a new nest the following year.

Unless anybody can produce documented evidence that removing the mites from bumblebees increases they survival overwinter, and of their nests the following spring, then I suggest, strongly, that washing the bees is more likely to do harm than good.

It might make you feel good and make a good story but I think you need to really consider carefully what you hope to achieve by doing this.

I don t think you need worry too much about me washing one bumble bee Rob, or the few people that might try it, most will run a mile when they see how big she is, you need to worry about the people that don t like them in their gardens, and spray poison down their nests to kill them all, if you look up bumble bees on the net, you will find loads of places that tell you the best way to get rid of them, below are some letters from people that are paid to kill them.

Pest Control Forum - Dilemma

And as for the mites, I don t really know much about them, most sites don t say much, but watching this bumble on cam, you could see she was stressed, doing all she could to try and get rid of them, you could see the difference in her after removing the mites, she was much happier and settled down to sleep.
I used to have a lot of bumbles in my garden, and now I have very few, I want to know why, so I m trying to give them a helping hand and learning on the way, I ve found slugs eat their honey pots, and spiders catch them as they fly home through their holes.

I don t do this to make stories Rob, its my way of helping wildlife, I could write a book of all the different wildlife I have helped over the years, just thought I would share this story.

Below where I found out how to wash a bumble.
How to Repair a Bumble Bee - UK Safari
Pauline.

[Alan]

As far as mites go, most are believed to be harmless. And as was said above, most just hitchhike rides on the bees and live off the detritus and moulds in the nest, so may well be beneficial. However, there is the possibility that some species of mite (there are many, and some actually live on the mites themselves!) pass virulent microorganisms on, like the Varroa mite does in honeybees with devastating effect. Still much research is required to clarify these ideas though.

In the big scheme of things even if the mites are beneficial, I don’t think Pauline’s actions are particularly harmful - at least not to the species as a whole anyway. It would be different if there were a national campaign for the washing of bumbles! More clarification would certainly be needed then.

Who knows, and with our increasingly mild climate, the bee concerned may well fly off to feed on a late flower and pickup more mites anyway!

I think on the whole Pauline’s attitude should be applauded.

Alan

[paulinemiller10]

It will soon be time for the bumble bees to come out of hibernation, I expect some people have already seen them, I will be watching out for them like I do every Spring, on cold wet Spring days you will often find them cold and wet on pavements and car parks, or just on the lawn.

I pick these bumbles up and take them home, they are kept in a warm box with a sugar drink until they recover and are ready to fly off.
Posting a pick of one I found on the road last year, she seemed fine when I got her home, but noticed her foot was missing, she was drinking her sugar drink, but she still could nt fly and sadly died a week later, her foot may have got infected or something, she is the only bumble I have lost this way, most will recover in a day or two.
Posting pic of her showing her foot missing. Pauline.

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/ar...Bumble_Bee.jpg

[Cowgirl]

I am inspired Pauline! What a wonderful tale. Not that I would wash them...too scared.

In future I am going to keep an eye out for any stray bees that need a bit of warmth & honey to pep them up. The mites may have been harmless but they must have been irritating. Around harvest time squillions of thrips are around & get everywhere on us. Totally harmless, but boy, are they itchy.

[aeshna5]

Even after the extreme spells of weather we've had this winter I'm still seeing worker bumblebees fairly regularly flying about. This is in the London area.

[Susie]

I've not seem a bee of any type for months. The cold weather has stopped just about all insects from flying. I was actually chuffed to see a fly the other day!