For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

The Great Bee Rescue - (Apis mellifera) Apidae

We have been having nothing else but rain for nearly three days now. I found this little fellow drowining in a puddle outside my office door.

So I gave him a finger to climb onto....

but he kept on nearly falling off....
He eventuall managed to drag himself onto dry hand....(LOL!!)
..and sat there, totally exhausted!!! (sorry this is not a good pic)

34 comments:

Andrea said...

I always do the same:I can't leave an insect in the water...

A New England Life said...

You have such a good heart Joan. I'm sure this bee was thankful for the chance to live a little bit longer. Hopefully it didn't sting you as a reward ; )

Anonymous said...

It seems to be nature's way, but I too have reacured a bug or two in my day.

No Blog said...

Joan, nice pic's of the bee. I can see it did not sting you after you saved it. Maybe saying thank you for saving me. Love the rose and the stargazers on your side bar.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It is a small thing to do Andrea but I felt so sorry for the poor thing.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Sharon. No it did not sting me the poor thing was mych too exhausted to do much of anything.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Good for you Steve. I wonder if they appreciate it?

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I wonder if I will be saved when I am drowning too Lawrence MD. The flowers mark the end of an era, a period of dreams and memories for me. They are so special.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Joan: You are so brave. I would give it a leaf or stick to climb on. Never my finger, it would sting me for sure.

Tony nile life said...

ar,nt we a load of old softies? I would do the same

Tony nile life said...

Must out an add on after what I have been blogging,
Difference is I would most likelly hold it up see if the bee eater would try for it.

Becky said...

You are such a good person Joan ! Who in the world would ever think of rescuing a bee and not worring about getting stung! Bravo! !
Amazing shots too..
B.

Anonymous said...

That last photo with its back arched like that and the business end down against your finger, would have had me worried there Joan, LOL! Good shots though! : )

Rambling Woods said...

Awww..poor little guy..nice that you gave him a hand..I hope the rain lets up soon or do you need a good rain?

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

How kind of you, the world needs bees.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I did not even thik of it at the time Tom. :) It was kind of instinctive that I reached out for it.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

We sure are softies Tony. Sometimes to our detriment I'm afraid but not in this case.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Tony: how could you want to feed it to your birds? LOL!! You sound like Steve. I know your beautiful bee-eaters would have loved the snack. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Becky. I always feel sorry for these poor things when I see them drowning, especially the butterflies who have such a short life.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! I was afraid of it too when I saw it curving down Ken, but the poor thing was so exhausted it just hung there. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks for the comment and visiting Iowa Gardening Woman. If only the world realized how important bees are to our survival! Without them we would not have all this lovely food we eat so thoughtlessly every day.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It has been raining here for so long Michelle. It does clear up and we see the sun for a couple of hours every now and then. It is soft rain and is doing the world of good. I went to Pilansberg for the weekend and it was so lush and green there. I have never seen the dams so full and overflowing. I never mind all the rain we get as I have seen times of drought and what it does to the animals and I do not want to see it happen again. It is devastating.

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

Joan the bee lifeguard. Well done on the rescue. Brave as well. I would have looked for something to pick him up with so not to tempt him to sting me. But on the other hand you are a friend of all critters.

Anonymous said...

Bees won't sting their queen and saviour. :)

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful act of kindness. You'r little friend looks grateful.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jonker. It seems like I am always finding lost souls to rescue.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

How wonderful of you to say so Bernie. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Stacey. It dried off after a while and I watched it fly off to live another day. A very pleasing thought for me.

Craver Vii said...

You're so kind, Joan! The world could use more of your risk-taking brand of compassion.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Isn't almost everything we do in life 'taking as risk' Craver? Sometimes we do things with the best intentions and it comes back to bite us. Sometimes we take a risk and are rewarded with gratitude. So how would we ever know if we are doing the right thing if we dont take the risk and find out?

Becky said...

Hope he made it. I can't stand to see bugs drowning either only I would use a stick if it were liable to sting me. I use my hand for beetles that I find in the outside water bowl for the cats. I don't like to see anything suffering.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Yes he did Becky. I put him on a ledge and after he dried out he took off. I have been lucky in my years working with these insects, nothing has ever bitten or stung me but I better not say that loudly, just now they hear and take revenge. :)

Wendy said...

Joan, you have the biggest heart, this is hands down my favorite post from your blog, I absolutely love it. That little bee must be so thankful :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Leeloo. I felt so sorry for the poor little thing and could not leave it there like that.