urgent help needed with bumblebee

[Adrastea]

Hi all,

I found a bumblebee crawling about yesterday, I watched it all afternoon and it wasn't flying. I checked on the internet and gave it some honey in water (and some sugar in water), but it didn't perk up much.

I kept it overnight in a box and put it out today in the sun. It's wings don't seem to be damaged and it spends a lot of time cleaning itself. It's a male I think as I can't see pollen baskets. I can't see any mites. It pumps it's body and buzzes as it is trying to fly...it manages to take off, but then it drops to the ground.

Does anyone have any advice as to what to do? I have it in the box again for tonight..should I keep trying, it is buzzing and pumping a bit!?

[shirlthegirl43]

If the bees wings are damaged then the truth may be that it is simply worn out - that is what happens to them sadly. I would put it in a sheltered spot outside and let nature take its course.

[maypril]

Take it to the vet?

[Madasafish]

feed it with a small amount of sugar syrup ( teaspoon of sugar to 1 teaspoon of hot water: Mix and let cool before feeding.)

[FB.]

If the bees wings are damaged then the truth may be that it is simply worn out - that is what happens to them sadly. I would put it in a sheltered spot outside and let nature take its course.

I agree.
It's probably an early one and is now worn out after many miles of flying. Maybe it's not a bumblebee; we've been finding worn-out solitary bees moping around the house and garden, but it's past their time now and most solitary bees die in June-July.
Put your bee outside in a sunny spot, on or near to a flower that the bees like and let nature take its course.
I grow plants to support bumblebees or wild bees - and I allow them to nest in my composters. But you just have to leave nature to get on with things.
It's only one bee from the nest. At this time of year, the loss of one bee isn't too serious - many more will end up becoming smudges on lorry windscreens or poisoned by pesticide residues.

[Adrastea]

Thanks for the advice everyone, after hand feeding it I guess I got a bit attached to it and was willing it to survive! and I really like bees. I have noticed quite a few of them attacking each other, is this the different species fighting over flowers, does anyone know? has anyone else noticed this?

[FB.]

Male solitary bees will fight each other, as will hoverflies.

Early in the season when there are only a few flowers open, I've sometimes seen a bit of angry buzzing between honey bees (presumably from different hives?) or bumblebees.