How can I save this bee?

[denningismyhomeboy]

Yesterday morning I found a massive fuck off bee on the landing - I presumed dead, but she gently buzzed when I picked her up. Didn't have much time before work to perform a proper rescue mission, so left her in a Tupperware with lid ajar with some sugary water and leaves.

Came home from work and she was in the middle of the sugary water looking very soggy. Reduced the amount of water (there wasn't that much to start with) and gave a gentle prod/stroke with a leaf. She was a bit weaker.

Now she's even weaker, but still moving. I want to help her but not sure how. Is it best to put her back outside and hope she hibernates again (I assume bees hibernate?!) but she's barely moving. Up the sugar and water? Put her on a radiator?

Like you I would have done the sugary water. Did that once out in my garden after seeing a story about it. Put some sugar on a teaspoon and some water. It had gone when I went back to check hours later so I guess it must have worked. I don't know what else to suggest. Well done for bothering though. 👍☺️

a basic worker bee only lives 6 weeks (summer bee) a winter worker bee will live through the winter about 6 months.
they do not die in their hives, bees are very clean, so much so that when they do their final flight they take out the garbage with them.
please let the poor thing die in peace.
a queen bee will live longer (up to 5 years) but she is the only one, and certainly wouldn't be venturing far from the hive alone.

it sounds from your description of the size like a queen bumblebee rather than a worker honeybee as knitclub describes. Bumblebee queens do go into torpor over the winter. I'm not sure that there's much you can do but being inside in the warm is probably not great.