"Dave Hill" wrote in message
...
On May 16, 12:37 am, Janet wrote:
I found a large sodden bumble bee struggling in the pond, fished it out
and put it in the sun to dry off. As it dried it kept wiping itself with
its middle legs; then I realised it was trying in vain to rub off small
live mites; it had a dozen or more crawling around on its back.

Are these varroa? Or do bumble bees get different mites?

Janet

Now if it had been a Welsh bumble bee then it would have had webed
feet and waterwing

_____
to be serious, if you see a bumble bee seemingly dying on the ground, all
she needs is a little bit of honey to get her about again.
So get your bumble bee carefully, and put her on to a flat surface, use a
matchstick to put a drop of honey near her. Very soon you will see her
feeding tube come out and drink it
and then she will fly away within 5 minutes.
I've done it often, I've never been stung, and it works every time.
They just get exhausted sometimes. It's hard work if the weather is like it
is and even if it isn't. Just giving them that drop of honey is like magic
if you see a bumble bee seemingly dying on the ground. It's all they need.
Tina







reet, all