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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you all to save a bee?

41 replies

Wasapea · 30/07/2013 13:56

Just that really. Advice from the RSPB says to give exhausted bumblebees an energy drink of sugar and a bit of water if you see one struggling.

Best to put the mixture in a bottletop and keep an eye on your stripy friend to make sure he doesn't drown. I did this today and it was lovely. The bee enjoyed it as well and flew off into a flowerbed.

I didn't know about this till very recently so thought I would spread the word and see if this nest of vipers could help save more bumblebees

OP posts:

chubbychipmonk · 31/07/2013 00:12

Sorry if this is a stupid question, are you all picking these bees up with your bare hands? Will they not sting? Have seem loads in the garden, I'll be out saving them tomorrow!

HopLittleFroggyHopHopHop · 31/07/2013 01:03

I'd love to save a bee, but I'm always nervous about being stung! Will they sting for no reason or is it only if you move quickly and scare them?

Thumbwitch · 31/07/2013 01:24

I picked my bumblebee up on a piece of paper and put him on the countertop. I did stroke his little furry back, but wouldn't have attempted to pick him up with my bare hands.

Original poster

Wasapea · 31/07/2013 08:47

From what I've heard bumbles are very docile and many will happily sit on your finger. I'm not quite brave enough for that though as I have a bad wasp fear. I just put their energy drink next to them and they lap it up.

OP posts:

Flobbadobs · 31/07/2013 09:19

Did this yesterday, a kind of payback for the one I rolled on in the garden and squashed... took ages to dig the sting out of my leg too...

GibberTheMonkey · 31/07/2013 09:42

That video may have made me well up
But it's brilliant because I can show the kids. The younger two who scream at anything small and creep crawly/flying

Tweasels · 31/07/2013 09:51

My DD is obsessed with bees, she's been dressed as one for the last 4 days.

She would love this!

UnrequitedSkink · 31/07/2013 09:54

Can someone please clarify whether giving bees honey is bad for the hive or not? Do we have any bee expert MNetters?

ArrowofApollo · 31/07/2013 09:54

My DD aged 2 loved the video, she is obsessed with bees, loves watching them on our lavender plants - but she keeps trying to grab them!!

Flobbadobs · 31/07/2013 09:56

Out of interest, will a bee with only one wing be ok? We saw one in the garden a few days ago that was practically running down the path, u the wall and almost jumped onto the grass. I picked it up and put it on a flower, went back to check later and couldn't see it. Hope it was ok..

Original poster

Wasapea · 31/07/2013 11:17

Not sure whether a bee with one wing would survive very long Flobbadobs At least you gave it a chance though.

OP posts:

ChrisTheSheep · 31/07/2013 11:23

We always try to help bees out when we can, and have planted some bee-friendly wild flowers in the garden along with the usual veg etc. DS is really fascinated by them, and always reminds people not to touch them in case it frightens them.

DH once dried a wet bee which had got caught in a rain shower: it took ages, but fortunately the bee seemed fine afterwards!

Shroomboom · 31/07/2013 11:34

Thanks FruOla, will bear that in mind. We use local honey from the guy at the end of the road though, presumably they are the same bees that come into our garden? Does that make a difference?

FruOla · 31/07/2013 20:55

I've got no idea. Different hives, different bees, same area but ..... I'm not sure - I copied & pasted that from someone else's post on the other thread

MandC13 · 31/07/2013 21:28

My parents have bought ds1 a bee house for next year! It is about the size if a bird house, but full of bamboo canes, apparently solitary bumblebees will use it in the spring. My mum had one in her garden this year and every compartment was filled with a bee.
I think bumblebees are supposed to keep wasps away from your garden too.

FruOla · 03/08/2013 08:43

There was a fascinating documentary on BBC2 last night (Fri 2nd Aug) called What's Killing Our Bees? A Horizon Special, which was presented by Bill Turnbull who has been a beekeeper for a number of years. If you didn't see it, try and catch it on iPlayer.

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