Queen bumblebees hibernate don’t they?

By rights she should be hibernating. This was a Queen Bombus terrestris however, in some areas of the country, probably due to climate change, these plucky bumblebees have been active particularly in southern  areas and around the midlands.  This one to me was bedraggled, slow, soaked and very sorry looking. The moss land she was found on is woefully devoid of any flowers for her to forage on, at this time of the year. As she was very torpid, I suspect despite the wind and rain that day, the unseasonably warm weather on this warm sunny day, had awoken her from her hibernation site, somewhere near the drier areas of the woodland footpath.

soaked, slow and very sorry looking queen bumblebee!

soaked, slow and very sorry looking queen bumblebee!

If you find one like I did, you may be able to help if you live nearby. This information from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is useful.

For more information about Bombus terrestris from BWARS click here

Download an Hymettus Information sheet about winter active Bumblebees here

NERC Planet Earth article  Bees brave British winters