How can you save a bumblebee from fleas?

How can you save a bumblebee from fleas? - briefly

Apply a diluted neem oil spray or a gentle insecticidal soap to eliminate the fleas, then transfer the bee to a sterile, well‑ventilated container with fresh sugar solution and pollen for recovery.

How can you save a bumblebee from fleas? - in detail

Bumblebees infested with fleas suffer reduced foraging efficiency, impaired flight, and heightened mortality. Effective rescue requires a systematic approach: detection, removal, treatment, and habitat management.

1. Detect infestation

   • Examine the bee’s thorax, abdomen, and legs for small, fast‑moving parasites.
   • Use a magnifying lens or low‑magnification microscope to confirm flea presence.
   • Record the number of parasites per individual to gauge severity.

2. Isolate the affected bee

   • Transfer the bee to a ventilated container with a small amount of sugar water and pollen.
   • Keep the container away from healthy colonies to prevent cross‑contamination.

3. Remove parasites

   • Gently brush the bee with a soft, fine‑bristled brush to dislodge fleas.
   • Rinse the bee briefly in a solution of distilled water containing 0.5 % mild, non‑ionic surfactant (e.g., Tween 20) to reduce surface tension and aid removal.
   • Pat the bee dry with a paper towel, avoiding excessive pressure.

4. Apply treatment

   • Prepare a diluted neem oil solution (1 ml neem oil per 100 ml water) with a few drops of emulsifier.
   • Administer a single micro‑droplet (≈0.5 µl) to the bee’s dorsal surface using a calibrated pipette; neem oil disrupts flea development without harming the insect.
   • Alternatively, use a commercial entomopathogenic fungus (e.g., Beauveria bassiana) formulated for pollinators, following manufacturer dosage.

5. Support recovery

   • Offer fresh nectar (10 % sucrose solution) and pollen ad libitum.
   • Maintain temperature between 20–25 °C and relative humidity around 60 % to promote healing.
   • Monitor the bee for 24–48 hours; if fleas reappear, repeat removal and treatment.

6. Prevent future infestations

   • Clean nesting boxes and surrounding vegetation with a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution (3 % H₂O₂, 1:10 dilution).
   • Introduce natural flea predators such as predatory mites (e.g., Stratiolaelaps scimitus) into the environment.
   • Rotate floral resources to avoid prolonged exposure to flea‑harboring plants.
   • Conduct regular inspections of colonies, especially during warm, humid periods when flea populations surge.

By following these steps, a compromised bumblebee can be rescued, its health restored, and the risk of recurrent flea attacks minimized.