▲ Vote 1

Queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

Queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) PHOTO 2 of 2:  This is the same (what I believe to be Queen) Buff-tailed Bumblebee I posted prior to this photo, just 24 hours later she looked like this, on closer inspection I can see a bug of some sort on her. Her back end was pulsating and she looked really messy. I got very close to her and she was reaching a leg out, eventually she flew off. Please, please can anyone tell me what was happening to her. Is this a case of Bee Mites?  Bombus terrestris,Geotagged,United Kingdom,bumblebee

PHOTO 2 of 2: This is the same (what I believe to be Queen) Buff-tailed Bumblebee I posted prior to this photo, just 24 hours later she looked like this, on closer inspection I can see a bug of some sort on her. Her back end was pulsating and she looked really messy. I got very close to her and she was reaching a leg out, eventually she flew off. Please, please can anyone tell me what was happening to her. Is this a case of Bee Mites?

Tags (4)

Comments (6)

Collapse replies Expand replies

  1. View Eagle Owl class
    Eagle Owl Class 6 of 12
    View Bridget Charity Rendall's profile
    Bridget Charity Rendall Posted 8 months ago, modified 8 months ago
    This is the same (what I believe to be Queen) Buff-tailed Bumblebee I posted prior to this photo, just 24 hours later she looked like this, on closer inspection I can see a bug of some sort on her. Her back end was pulsating and she looked really messy. I got very close to her and she was reaching a leg out, eventually she flew off. Please, please can anyone tell me what was happening to her. Is this a case of Bee Mites?
    1. View Lion class
      Lion Class 12 of 12
      View fchristant's profile
      fchristant Posted 8 months ago
      Interesting situation. I'm not of much help here I'm afraid, no idea what this can be. The only thing I can add is that when insects stay put for a long time, it can be because they are cold blooded and the environment is cold, making them sluggish.
  2. View Eagle Owl class
    Eagle Owl Class 6 of 12
    View Bridget Charity Rendall's profile
    Bridget Charity Rendall Posted 8 months ago, modified 8 months ago
    I wonder if this is what is affecting the Bumblebee - Parasitellus Fucorum
  3. View Green Fly class
    Green Fly Class 1 of 12
    View Tamara Jane Sharp's profile
    Tamara Jane Sharp Posted 8 days ago
    So interesting - and sad. Did you ever find out I wonder...
    1. View Eagle Owl class
      Eagle Owl Class 6 of 12
      View Bridget Charity Rendall's profile
      Bridget Charity Rendall Posted 8 days ago
      Well to be honest I went up there the very next day and she was still there, I got very close and then all of a sudden she flew off, so in my mind she was a survivor.
      1. View Green Fly class
        Green Fly Class 1 of 12
        View Tamara Jane Sharp's profile
        Tamara Jane Sharp Posted 8 days ago
        Quite right.

Add a new comment

Sign in or Join in order to comment.