Lots of stupified bees on Sea Holly ?!

[LittleSkink]

First post - hi folks

We dont keep bees but have lots of bee / butterfly friendly planting in the garden and may yet take the plunge

The two big clumps of Sea Holly have been alive with bees for weeks but we noticed last night it was covered in dozy looking bees at dusk (mostly all the same species I suspect, quite large bees with white bottoms). This morning many are still there, they look dead but if you blow on them they do move

Yesterday it was 21C, windy and heavy showers, overnnight it was 12C but dry

The kids (and me) are really concerned for the bees but wonder if this might be normal

any thoughts or advice?

 

[Russel]

Welcome to the forum.
Sounds like bumble bees(large and white bottoms), they are quite hardy, flying in all sorts and should be off about their business as soon as they are warm enough.

 

[Davelin]

Yes they sound like Bumble Bees. At this time of year they will be producing new queens that mate and hibernate over winter.
What you are probably seeing are workers that are reaching the end of their life cycle. Unlike honey bees the worker Bumble Bees die out in late summer and only the queens over winter.

All part of nature's cycle.

 

[Russel]

Bumbles have the ability to stop out overnight or at least the ones that visit our lavender do.