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Is this bee ok?

PostPosted:28 Feb 2021, 19:36
by Em_1ly
Hi!

I was photographing a flower yesterday and noticed a bee acting strangely as though drunk, covered in what looks like pollen but it also had multiple small parasites like the one circled in this photograph, there was a cluster of them on the other side of the bee too. Is this normal? Is the bee sick?


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Re: Is this bee ok?

PostPosted:28 Feb 2021, 23:11
by Patrick
Hi

It is an overwintered bumblebee queen. Probably not sick, just cold and staggering around, it’s not that warm just yet.

They often carry a number of small mites on them. It’s not unusual to see queens with quite a lot more passengers than this one.

She should be fine once she gets her nest established.

Re: Is this bee ok?

PostPosted:01 Mar 2021, 12:51
by AdamD
As Patrick says, they are not usually a problem. Braula Coeca is a wingless fly that is often seen on bumblebees - not sure if this is Braula or not.

Re: Is this bee ok?

PostPosted:01 Mar 2021, 15:19
by Steve 1972
Over the past couple of years i have found some bumble bees with that many mites on them they could not fly..also i have found some huge black beetles covered in them ..not knowing if it would kill them i thought about dusting the bees and beetles with diatomaceous earth (they where ready to die anyway imo)..after dusting them it is unbelievable how many mites they are carrying once they start dropping of ..

Re: Is this bee ok?

PostPosted:01 Mar 2021, 19:35
by Em_1ly
Thankyou so much for your informative answers I am glad to know that she will be ok, had never heard of things living on a bee!
It is relief that they don't cause harm and that her slow and clumsy movements seem to be normal occurrence! :D :D

Much appreciated! :D