X rated!!
By Scottish
7 Aug, 2014
9 likes
Here's one picture I'd never have expected to take!
The bee on top appeared to be dead but I wasn't quite sure. However, the following morning (I left them in peace) it was still wrapped around the same spot. It fell to the ground when I tried to investigate.
The newly hatched queens will lie quite still for around 80 minutes after mating, the male injects her with a solution that hardens and stops her mating with another male. Therefore ensuring his genes carry on.
I have been unable to find information about their mating habits in so much as mating with dead bees or if she will have died as a result of his over enthusiasm or another cause. It would have been good to find out for sure. So if anyone knows, please let me know
Comments on this photo
Fascinating, and great capture Angie. Btw, sending you a PM . .
8 Aug, 2014
The Bumble Bee site might be able to shed more light on this if you email them a photo.
8 Aug, 2014
I wonder, if this was the reason, why I was not allowed to enter this webpage today, lol. Great snap!
8 Aug, 2014
Thanks all.
I've posted on the Bumblebee Conservation Trust forum, hopefully someone will tell me. I'd be interested to know why it happened.
Kat - you computer is too sensitive, just like me..lol!
9 Aug, 2014
:-/
Are you bee keeper, Katrin?
9 Aug, 2014
Look forward to hearing the answers....
11 Aug, 2014
Lovely photo Angie ..... You didn't have to photograph them, you could have just left them to it. I comment no further, as it is before the 'watershed'.... <];~)))
12 Aug, 2014
There always seem to be dead bumble bees in the garden Scottish. I suppose their life cycle means that we will see them scattered about as the season wears on. It seems such a short busy life, just handing on your genes or altruistic helpers for survival.
12 Aug, 2014
Had a reply from the Bumblebee Conservation folks and those males are so desperate to mate they will, as we can see even, mate with dead queens. He would not have killed her during or after the act as male Bumblebees can't sting. Didn't know that either.
18 Aug, 2014
Interesting Angie. Well done for finding this out.
18 Aug, 2014
What would we do without the internet. It is wonderful what we can find out from people with a special interest in bees. Thank you for passing that on Scottish.
22 Aug, 2014
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That's interesting because this time last year we were finding loads of dead and dying bees on the Echiums at Glamis. I looked in to it and it seems to be a natural thing..but isn't it strange that they seem to die more on that flower...perhaps they just prefer it, and then they just die naturally on it after their last meal.
7 Aug, 2014