Just found a Bumble Bee covered in mites!

lovelyjubbly

I know this message will probably get moved, but I though it was the place to catch the eye of all the gardeners

I just found a big Bumble Bee floating in my pond, so I got it out and it was still alive, Hooray! I have put it in a safe place to dry out and hopefully live, but I thought it looked funny and when I got my magnifying glass and looked closely it was really covered in mites, and I mean lots! over 20, I was wondering if this is something that should be reported anywhere, as I have not seen it before, and |I know there is a problem with mites in honey bees, any ideas ?

theGrinch

check the bbc gardeners world website for a link. they did a piece last summer of a chap that does nothing but look at things like this - could be at kew gardens actually.

Little_Chicken

There seems to be some debate about whether the mites kill the bees. You could save the bee by doing this: http://www.uksafari.com/bumblebees3.htm

Save the bee, save the bee. xxxxx

*MF*

Have a look or make contact here:

http://www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk/

Informative article here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5604401.ece

lovelyjubbly

I just love the
How to Repair a Bumble Bee

as I found the bee floating in the pond, maybe he was trying to shake them off himself!

lovelyjubbly

Just ckecked on the Bumble Bee, he is 'resting' in the hedge, he is not moving much, hopefully he will dry out and fly off, I will check in the morning, fingers crossed

Primrose

Are you sure it was mites and not specs of pollen ? I know this is a silly question but we have bumble bees flying around our crocus and winter heather at the moment and the small specs of pollen they get covered with can look very much like mites.

melanie22_2

poor bee!

Love the repair a bumble bee title hehehe:)

Let us know if you do it and how it goes

lovelyjubbly

Hi Primrose, yes they were definately mites, I not only saw them crawling, but I got some off and put them in a little plastic tube as I had never seen them before and thought I might need to send them somewhere for analysis! that is until I read on here that they are common. (the mites have been inside the tube since yesterday and they are still crawling around euk!)
As I found the Bee floating in the pond I did not try the 'repair a bumble bee' advice as It looked so weak I didnt think it could take another dunking. Anyway I have looked this morning to the place that I left the bee and it is not there so fingers crossed it recovered and flew off.