I know this forum is mostly relating to birds and I apologize if this is off topic.

Got a bit of a question about a bee after a freaky experience earlier this evening.. now I adore bumble bees, mostly because they're just so "cute" and I've seen them around here a lot, especially feeding off the roses and such. Last summer a bumble bee nest was found in the garage and the experts said it had to be disposed of, which made me very sad because I don't like having them killed, they're important to the environment and all (as far as I know)

At the end of the fall as I was BBQing outside on the back porch I actually witnessed the BIGGEST bumble bee I've ever seen, she was hovering very very slowly in the air, and it was a surreal thing to see. She had a black abdomen (the end most part of her body, not exactly sure what the term. is) but she looked like velvet, really really beautiful. She settled somewhere under the deck right beside the BBQ and I think maybe she went to sleep there over the winter. According to some pictures I saw on the internet, she seems to be a Queen.

This evening around 9:30 I was going to BBQ, turned on the light outside and opened the screen door, lit the grill and as I came back in I heard a "BUZZ" overhead. I'm quite freaked out by bugs so I ran back inside. After putting my stuff on the grill I heard yet another "BUZZ" but I figured it was one of those bugs that hovers around the light and maybe makes buzzing sounds.

Went back inside, and when it was time to go back out and flip the burgers I heard this buzz that seemed to come from between the two doors. I gently hit the glass and heard BUZZ. I hit it again and "BUZZ" ... I did this about 5 times and each time I heard this "BUZZ" which lead me to think maybe it was the sliding door squeaking or the rubber was stuck/getting old.
I asked my SO to come down and listen to this, so I hit the door and another BUZZ. He said it wasn't the door, so we figured maybe a fly or worse... a WASP got trapped. There are so many wasps around here that it's scary.

I was desperate to either get the stuff off the grill or at least just turn it off, but too frightened. Finally we worked up the courage to open the door after seeing something "fly away" looked like a bee to me. I stepped out and while I quickly got the stuff off the grill when my SO exclaimed at the bumble bee on the wall.

She was the queen, so large and sitting right by the light on the brick wall, she wasn't there before that's for sure and she was shivering, or her abdomen was moving, I felt so terrible but her wings looked in tact and she didn't look harmed other than being freaked.

I do hope she'll be ok. I've tried to look for info online, and I don't know why she's hanging around, or if she just emerged from her winter sleep, shouldn't she be off building a colony/hive? Could it be that her colony were the ones in the garage and she's confused because they're gone, it's all so sad.

If any of you fellow nature loving members know anything about bumble bees that may explain this I would appreciate the insight. Thank you!

How interesting, TTT!!

I sure hope she will be OK too!

I have always like the Bumbles...but don't see too many around here. The ones we have are black.

Will be looking forward to more information.

Also, this site does have other areas, which definitely keeps things interesting! I enjoyed your post very much!

Love and Hugs

Shi

Shi,

I didn't see her around today so I do hope she moved on and figured out what to do for herself.

Thank you!

I do not like the Bumbles !!. I inherited a couple of bee hives once and kept them for a couple of years. Honey bees ( like most bees) are gentle and not bothersome if left alone but they do sting and the stings in uncomfortable. When bumbles sting ... it hurts !!

That was a nice story about your queen bumble bee.

I like bumble bees too and find them really cute. I'm not frightened of them whatsoever.

Wasps on the other hand are scary insects! I had a queen wasp in my bedroom recently that had emerged from hibernation but I carefully managed to collect it and free it to the outside since it was fairly weak from hibernation. Like you, I hoped that she was ok when released. Even though I dislike wasps, I never kill them. I am usually fairly controlled if they are around but if they get too close to my face that's when I begin to panic.

Jax&Paddy wrote:That was a nice story about your queen bumble bee.

I like bumble bees too and find them really cute. I'm not frightened of them whatsoever.

Wasps on the other hand are scary insects! I had a queen wasp in my bedroom recently that had emerged from hibernation but I carefully managed to collect it and free it to the outside since it was fairly weak from hibernation. Like you, I hoped that she was ok when released. Even though I dislike wasps, I never kill them. I am usually fairly controlled if they are around but if they get too close to my face that's when I begin to panic.

WOW! You rescued a queen WASP!!!??

I don't know if I'd have the courage to do what you did but you're so sweet and she sure was lucky. I hate to harm living things too, and also found a wasp in my BBQ the other day, unfortunately he made his way down into the fire as soon as it was lit and I was trying to get him to fly away, though they're annoying around here I still felt bad and it's no way for any creature to die

Maniac, I didn't know they sting, I guess you mean if they're bothered or scared? I will definitely watch out for this, because last year I was videoing them on flowers, and they didn't seem to mind but I sure don't want to get hurt.

Haven't seen any honey bees around, but I'm sure it would be nice to.

We had an old shed where they had several nests built into the insulation. Me and the girl next door used to tease them by throwing rocks at the cracks in the siding they used to enter and exit their nests ( we were dumb kids then lol). One day this mad, bad assed queen flew out, headed straight for Joan and stung her on the lower eyelid. Wow did she scream in pain and it left a black mark that is still visible almost 55 yrs later. Before this incident, I and lots of my friends used to catch them in the cup of our hands from the tops of flowers. The story was that as long as they were in the dark ( in your hand) they wouldn't sting. It is true I guess as I did it many times .... until the last time when I got stung on the base of my thumb ... ooh I can still remember the pain and how swollen and paralyzed my thumb was for a week.
You live and learn

Speaking of Honey Bees....who remembers this!?! I used to love Gilligan's Island when I was a kid and this was a real catchy tune with those 3 groovy chicks.