There is a bee on my lap

[YesitsBess]

This is Horacio, he is one of three bumbles who seem to keep visiting a specific part of our decking, exhausted. So each time I get some honey, and sit them on my lap until they can go off again. I know they’re a bit slow at this time of year, but what can I be doing to help them that isn’t sitting with them on my lap please?

I am suitably braced for bee puns, and welcome future name suggestions. Currently there is him, Ignacio, and sister Maria Consuela.

Thankyou for your attention on this matter.

How lovely!

Though apparently honey isn't great for them: simple sugar water is better.

I quickly looked it up to back up my comment: Honey could contain bad bacteria.

https://www.beevive.com/howtosaveatiredbee

How adorable! I love bumble bees.

A very shallow dish of sugar water would probably be better for them than honey (and would free up your lap, although having a wee BeeBF is lovely).

Aren't they at the end of their life, that's why they are slow and sleepy? So there isn't anything.

What a lovely thing to do. Well done.

Yesterday I entertained a wasp on the back of my hand. I had washed my hands but maybe I hadn’t got rid of every shred of coffee cream from a cake I’d handled? He had a proper feast on my knuckles area and I could feel his sharp little pin prick bites eating something from my skin. It was amazing. Eventually he flew away but returned to my other hand & nibbled at that on the soft skin at the top of my fingers & in between them. He eventually flew off.

I never throw my hands or arms around when wasps are near. I just calmly move away whatever they’re interested in (beer, soft drink glass) or I walk away from their orbit. Never been stung & am not frightened by them.

Perhaps you could get a flowering plant to pop on your deck for the next month or so? Although I do love bumblebees and would happily let them sit on me all day! Especially cute when they give themselves a little wash

I use a milk bottle lid with one edge flattened a little.

or a you can also put the water and sugar in a teaspoon and balance the handle on a jar

Horacio is a very fine bee name!

How lovely

@Idontdoyoga

'I never throw my hands or arms around when wasps are near. I just calmly move away whatever they’re interested in (beer, soft drink glass) or I walk away from their orbit. Never been stung & am not frightened by them.'

I fear that you're tempting fate there, they know where you live... 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝

Please don't give them honey! Other bees honey is not good for them!

Sugar water on a teaspoon is perfect :)

They need water generally. No additives are required.

I have a lap I'm willing to volunteer to give you a break.

Love the names btw.

That is so lovely.
I love bees & there's nothing better then when you find a an exhausted or half dead or even a very wet rain soaked bee & you give them some tlc & within an hour or two they're zooming round the flowers in the garden again.
Also help wasps & butterflies too but as pps say sugar water is best.

I reckon if you help a wasp they must tell their mates not to sting you 😊
And the bees tell their hive mates that you're the Bee A&E 😁

Right, sugar water shallow dish to be created (I’m going to get ants now aren’t I and there isn’t enough room on my lap for everyone). They did seem to love the honey though. Like little elephants.

I do draw the line at knuckle chewing wasps!

The new Queens will be going into hibernation soon, so they might be stocking up before that starts. Certainly still got a quite a few huge bumbles in my garden on the buddleia & rosemary atm.

You’re so kind@YesitsBess ! This is from Gardener’s World

Bee friendly garden in Autumn

I love bees 🐝 whenever I save one from the pool or guide them outside when they fly in I speak to them and call them bee-yonce

Sugar water like others have suggested.

Nectar rich autumn plants in pots near the area.

They like sitting on your lap as they are actually cold and are seeking warmth. They don't have the energy anymore to keep warm (which is why they are going mad for the sugary water). Sorry, but there's nothing like bodyheat when you are so cold. You are going to have to stay there, huddled in your blankie and hot bottle, until they don't visit anymore. You do like sitting in -2C, dont you? 😆

Bee A&E?!?! I love it!

I have recently purchased an electric throw thing. I may sit outside with it on and arrange them in a decorative fashion upon it. With my sugar water cocktail bar.

Because that is both sane and normal.

I’m naming the next one Margarita Pratacaan.

I'm feeling a bit hormonal and despondent today but this really has made me smile. Thankyou.

Its very normal OP. What isn't normal is the different sugar water cocktails. You could do strawberry, raspberry and blackberry flavours I suppose, possibly even pear?

A flavoured speakbeeasy! I now regret giving away my miniature chicken tea set.
That would have been perfect for this!

It’s the end of the summer and they’re dying. Not much you can do unfortunately. Make sure you provide some nesting spots for the bees who hibernate.

The just for you @thefamous5 here is Sister Maria Consuela to warm ALL YOUR COCKLES

Look at her big lovely eyes!

Used to keep bees and yes bumble as well as honey bees can revive with some sugar water, we were taught not to give honey. Sadly it's the time of year where unless it's a newly mated queen (who will now hibernate in the ground over winter) the rest of the colony will complete their life cycle around this time. Still a lovely thought of you op, your pics and name choices made me smile