We are starting a garden so I borrowed a rake from some friends and it is sitting in our house waiting for us to level the ground with it. Well, this morning as I was sitting at the computer I was startled by a large buzzing bee which suddenly emerged from the rake! I ran as quickly as an 8-month pregnant lady can into our bedroom and shut the door. Maybe normally I would feel quick, nimble & brave enough to handle the bee on my own (optimistic?) but in my current rather slow moving state I decided to call Holden. He didn't seem very alarmed that his pregnant damsel was in distress and being held hostage in her room by a bee. He told me it was probably near a window and that I should open the window and then trap her between the screen and the window. (By the way, I DO try to free insects when I can instead of kill them unless they scare me too much. I will admit to pushing a spider into the bathroom sink and turning the water on just 2 days ago. I'm not proud of it, but it was hopping around. I don't stand for much hopping from spiders.) So I took Holden's advice and was able to trap it pretty quickly. After some searching on the internet I found out it is a female Eastern Carpenter Bee.
I do feel a little bad for her, she isn't buzzing around anymore. At least she is enjoying some fresh air... maybe she's eating through the screen, after all if she can drill a hole in a rake a screen is probably not much of a challenge, right?
From Wikipedia...
Carpenter bees are not solitary bees, but are not truly social either.
The weak form of sociality they exhibit, with one female doing the
majority of the work, and caring for her sisters, may be a
transitional step in the evolution of sociality. However they tend to
be gregarious, and often several will nest near each other. (I'm REALLY hoping there are no more bees in the rake...it doesn't look like there are).
The female carpenter bees tend to be busy with
floral visitation and nest provisioning, but have the ability to cause
a painful sting if captured. I guess she is staying where she is at. I won't attempt to free her unassisted.
Well, excitement over. I am now back at the computer enjoying some gentle tickling from our
baby girl on my right side. Have a great day.
3 comments:
I am so jealous that you're starting a garden! Did you guys buy a house then?...I guess I forgot. I really, really, really wanted a garden this summer but living in downtown Chicago merits only a couple of porch pot planters I suppose :( I can't wait til we have a little green space! You guys are so very lucky. :) I love that when it comes my time to buy a house, have a kid, garden, etc, I can just go straight to you for advice! Such an inspiration...*sigh*
Dont worry Nicole, I am not 8 months pregnant and I would still have had the same reaction that you displayed. Problem is, I would have left my phone in by the computer and would have just sat in my room until someone came to save me.
So funny! I need more pics of your ever expanding midsection to get a just visualization of the frightened hobbling. I'm sure you'll bee fine.
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