How I learnt to sober up a drunken bee
Adead bee was on the doormat, a poor husk of a thing – or so I thought. “It’s not dead, it’s tired,” said the Daughter and went to fetch some sugar water, having read that this was the approved pick-me-up for knackered bees.
Tenderly, she laid a dessert spoon next to the bee and we waited. I don’t know how bees drink, but the little thing seemed to be taking in the sugar water, almost by osmosis. Miraculous. You could see it perk up, expand. The colour returned to its stripes. It tried out its wings. I imagined harps playing. We opened the doors to the garden.
The Daughter explained that because there are fewer bees, they are taking in too much pollen. It’s a bit like first years during Smirnoff Night at the students’ union. They get incapacitated. Presumably, bees can’t throw up in a hedge as students can.
Can this be true? I sought the wisdom of crowds on Twitter. Several people confirmed that sugar water is the elixir for bees. One said she always uses honey to revive the bees when they stagger out of her chimney every year, but another claimed that honey risked passing on disease.
Can anyone explain in greater detail? Is there an apiarist about? I’m hungry to know more.
We were so happy with our bee resurrection. Such a simple good in a difficult week.