Advice needed - found hibernating queen bumble bee in a drawer..

[Bumpkin]

I've just opened a drawer full of old stuff and woken a queen bumble bee! She's huge and no longer asleep. I've gently trapped her under a large glass but not sure if it's ok to turf her outside in this weather, will she die? Any advice appreciated.

[natty01295]

Information regarding what bees do in the Winter months ;

https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-do-bees-do-in-winter

[Applespider]

Tweet or drop an email to one of the London beekeeper clubs or associations and they will be able to give advice. That?s what a friend did when she had a swarm appear in the garden and they were really helpful.

[Penguin68]

Don't keep her trapped under a glass (she needs oxygen); don't put her outside, she will die in the cold; give her a small amount of heavily sugared water (or even honey) - in a teaspoon in front of her; leave her in the drawer in the dark (drawer probably very slightly open). With luck she will go back to sleep and wake up normally in the spring. Only bumble queens over-winter.

[Blah Blah]

There are also hives and beekeepers in the sensory garden in Peckham Rye Park. Might be worth getting in touch with them for advice.

[Mystic Mog]

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bee-faqs/finding-bees-in-bad-weather/

Hope you find a solution. Long live the Queen!

[Sue]

I have the phone number of a local beekeeper if you still haven't made contact.

ETA: PM me if you need it.

[ponderwoman]

The queen would be best put where the temperature will be below 7c to stop her thinking that spring has come, so ending hibernation. She will only have a limited amount of reserves, so a 50% suger syrup solution would be useful if she is awake. She should be hibernating underground, protected from frost. A box in an outside shed would be great as long as there is an easy spring escape route.

Honey bees will fly when the temperature is over 10c. My hives all have hibernating queen wasps, neatly folded up in their rooves. 2017 was not a good year for wasps so they made a good choice as they have underfloor central heating provided by the bees.

I suspect your queen has buzzed her way to extinction, but great you have tried to help.

[amlh]

can you give us an update on the queen's situation? Intrigued!!

[DulwichMayor]

What's the update please?

[Bumpkin]

Hi, thanks so much for offers of advice, I contacted Marsden Road wildlife centre and bumblebee conservation society and they both advised feeding with sugar water and putting outside in a safe place which we duly did. Fingers crossed for lots of bumblebees in a few months time!!

[lavender27]

Every year there had been a visit by a hugh bumblebee fly in through my window, opening all the windows it finds it's way out. Why would a bumblebee do that every year. What are they attracted to ? Any knowledge would be helpful. Cheers.

[Sue]

Are you sure it's not a wasp (?queen?)looking for a place to start building a nest?

[Mystic Mog]

Thanks for the update Bumpkin. ☺

[lavender27]

No Sue, It was definitely a bee the size of my palm.

[Sue]

You must have a very small palm!!!

[Peachpie]

Thank you Sue. You made me laugh out loud this morning 😁.

[lavender27]

Sue , no my palm is quite large 😁

[Sue]

It must have bee (n) an extremely large bee then :))

[DulwichFox]

To all the doubters..

Ok. Its a Teddy . Mistaken Identity...