Edit: interestingly, I see a lot of honeybees and some wasps foraging, both on the leaves and flowers of the tilia, but it’s only the bumblebees that lie dead on the ground.

Every summer, there are dozens of bumblebees either dead or dying beneath tilia trees (linden/lime/basswood).

Why?

My father once told me (some 20 years ago?) that they die from “overeating”. With all due respect to his linden tea (thanks dad🩷🩵🤍), this sounds like folklore…

    • abbadon420@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      15
      ·
      3 days ago

      It’s basically a redbull to them. They get a big energy surge and can do stuff again. With a bit kf luck, they get enough energy to fly home and recover there.