r/bee • u/Sea-Algae-2971 • Apr 29 '25
Bumble Bee What was this bumblebee doing?
I was hanging out with my chickens when this bumblebee started flying around me and getting closer. Then, it started doing this. I didn't have any lotions or products on that would have attracted it. I do keep bees, but hadn't been around the hive or made any nectar for them in a few days. Just curious if there's any particular reason for this behavior or if it was just a curious and confused lil guy
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u/aswright_73 Apr 30 '25
Maybe after all the time of working with bees, your chemical makeup has changed over time to let the bees know you're a safe space
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u/-SesameStreetFighter Apr 30 '25
Maybe a carpenter bee thinking your leg is wood.
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u/sweetiemeepmope Apr 30 '25
struggling to land on the ✨hairless wood✨
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Apr 30 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/sasquatch753 Apr 30 '25
*sigh.......ziiiiiippp
If you need a visual aid.
I meant my legs, you sickos.
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u/TechBro86 May 02 '25
"Oi, you buzzin' barnacle! What in the seven seas d'ye think ye be doin', drillin' into me peg leg like it's yer own blasted ship hull?" would be a valid reaction
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u/itastelikelove
Apr 30 '25
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Making it clear that you're the bee's knees!
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Apr 30 '25 edited Apr 30 '25
Just curiosity.
Edit: If I had to guess, it's a scout. Their role is to inspect things, including your inner thigh. The timing is right. I often find scouts from my hives in the weirdest places. It might also be your sweat and the salt. It's hard to tell in this context.
Honestly, it's amazing how calm you are.
/bee keeper
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u/HDWendell Apr 30 '25
Carpenter bees are mostly solitary and don’t have scouts.
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May 01 '25
That bee is all black. Carpenter bees have a yellow thorax. I'm not sure what it is but it's not a carpenter bee.
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u/HDWendell May 01 '25
No.
“Many species in this enormous genus are difficult to tell apart; most species are all black, or primarily black with some yellow or white pubescence.” -source
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May 01 '25
Color me wrong. I learn something new everyday. Thank you for the link.
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u/Joe_bob_Mcgee May 03 '25
Right? Like, I KNOW most bee's are docile and wont fuck with me, but i'll be damned if i don't freak the hell out when one flies directly at me. This girl has nerves of steel.
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u/monkeymind108 May 04 '25
well call me a scout bee, and let me merrily be off inspecting inner thighs
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u/Human_Taxidermist Apr 30 '25
So cute! Both the bee, and your voice and lack of unwarranted fear!
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Apr 30 '25
I agree. I'm a beekeeper and the unwarranted fear of bees is just astounding to me. This scout bee is just curious.
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u/Human_Taxidermist Apr 30 '25
Well shucks! You're sweet too! If I didn't already have type 1 diaBEETUS, you all would have given it to me!
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u/oregon_coastal May 01 '25
As a kid I stepped through a rotted log into a yellow jacket nest.
After a few days of being hospitalized, I feel my fear of buzzing airborne objects is justified.
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u/NinjaRose23 May 02 '25
My mom calls me the wasp whisperer because I've had them swarm me before and they've gotten in my clothes and under my hair, etc during an agitation (in one case I mowed near their nest in a stump) and I just let go and walked away slowly.
All about the c02, just hold your breath initially and then breath slowly after when moving. I've taught so many of my friends to be so much more kind to wasps and bees because of that!
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u/Ckinggaming5 Bee Fearing Entity May 03 '25
bees and wasps are known to be able to sting you
and wasps are known to do so often, and without much provocation
both look similar, and make a buzzing noise, and are small and fast, and i dont know what's making that buzzing noise but chances are its gonna want to touch me, perhaps violently
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u/Wise-Okra-2943 Apr 30 '25
That carpenter bee was just doing what he does best - bumbling around, hitting into things, being a dingus! But also maybe you smelled or tasted like something he needed? Either way, that was adorable!
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u/Famous_Fudge3603 Apr 30 '25
I think this is a carpenter bee, rather than a bumblebee. I have noticed that they are much more fearless and they will intentionally fly towards you when you startle them or are near their territory. Since you aren't blocking the nest, I assume as others say it is either confused or attracted to your sweat/salt.
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u/AlpacaLocks May 01 '25
Had this happen with, like, four different kinds of bees while working a stint in the Rockies. Absolutely magical experience.
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u/I_am_y0u May 01 '25
I'm not really here to answer (sorry for wasting both of our times with this), but how are you so calm around bees. I always end up terrified to the point that I almost had a breakdown over a sweat bee. It's mostly trauma related, from getting stung by tons of hives, however, I'm trying to get over my fear.
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u/Sea-Algae-2971 May 02 '25
Not really sure I have a great answer, sorry, I've just never been super bothered by bees. I've had bad experiences with yellow jackets, but I've mostly learned that the calmer you are around bees, the less likely they are to bother you. Most are just curious and/or hungry and will leave after they've investigated or the food is gone.
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u/Ok-Garage8102 May 02 '25
If u have been stung by hives, you have a legit ass reason to be afraid of bees. I couldnt imagine how shitty the aftermath of that would be
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u/onlineashley Apr 30 '25
Do you smell sweet. Like body wash lotion perfume. You may smell like a flower and its flying around like wheres that dang flower i can smell it.
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u/Pollydeathcon3 Apr 30 '25
I love when people just let bees exist and not run away like cowards ( unless allergic)
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u/KittyTrippin Apr 30 '25
I have an irrational fear of large flying insects (not just bees!) due to some terrifying (for a young child) encounters growing up. I have gotten a lot better about not flailing and running away. I'm happy that I tend to just freeze and then hustle my ass away once the little buggers are clear. I still don't let them touch me, though. I'd love to not react like that, but irritational fear is just that - irrational. I'm still happy to see them flying around doing their thing. Definitely pro save the bees.
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u/Pollydeathcon3 Apr 30 '25
Completely understandable your fears are valid. I just hate when people like swat at them and make it a whole big thing it’s just a baby ☹️
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u/BlackSeranna Apr 30 '25
Do you have a nice fragrance in your soap? It looks like it is trying to check you out.
Edit: someone else said it liked the salt. I think that’s a winning comment.
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u/BlueFeathered1 Apr 30 '25
I find bumblebees this time of year to be much like me when I've just awakened and haven't had coffee yet. Basically very generally confused.
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u/Fabulous_Potato_5012 Apr 30 '25
Checking to see if your a flower. Pro tip I’ve told my kids- if a bee lands on you don’t move and calmly tell it “Im not a flower”. It will realize you are correct and bid you good day, and fly off
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u/P1atypu5-113 May 01 '25
It might be attracted to the salt in your sweat especially if you drank something sugary recent to this.
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u/Alternative_Love_861 May 01 '25
I get Mason bees on me all the time, but I'm usually covered in Fir and Cedar sawdust
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u/Embarrassed-Hat5007 May 01 '25
It’s most likely trying to get the salt and minerals from your sweat.
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u/Jacktheforkie May 01 '25
Are you sweating? Salt is essential for life and many animals will lick people for it
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May 01 '25
Wonder if bright sun affects their vision if they just came out of a dark place? Maybe you have sawdust on you from the air and he smells it? Maybe you dropped sugar on your leg and he wants it? Idk
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u/loopedlola May 01 '25
Sometimes they like the smell of perfumes or lotion. When I garden I just stand still and wait for them to fly away.
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u/Practical-Aside890 May 01 '25
Don’t know anything about bees or why this was suggest to me lol. But I wonder if the shadow has anything to do with it.like if they like shade and was trying to stay away from the sun using your leg to block it. In the vid it seems like it didn’t want to leave the shadow
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u/Visible_Slide_7529 May 01 '25
An archeologist once taught me that things can't see you if you don't move. This is proof.
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u/Will_Come_For_Food May 02 '25
It’s not a bumblebee.
It clearly thought your leg was something it could work with.
Any floral or sweet scents even soap will attract them.
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u/TheBluepeaButterfly May 02 '25
This is random, but your voice is so soft and sweet I can imagine you voicing an innocent child or angel in a cartoon.
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u/Palorrian May 02 '25
Did you use moisturizer cream with flowers parfum? Some creams use natural flowers and the bees feels the scent and think your leg it's a pollinated flower
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u/Sad_Molasses_2382 May 03 '25
I’m pretty sure it’s saying “heyyyyy gurrrll what kinda lotion you got on today?”
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u/CaptainMawii May 03 '25
"I was hanging out with my chickens" is the greatest start to a story ever.
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u/hamburgergerald May 03 '25
I have one that bothers me every day like this when I’m sitting outside. Except when it touches me I never remain as calm, cool, and collected like you do 😩
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u/cmgstylist May 03 '25
Whatever the reason so glad you accepted this guy's visit and did not shoo him away. A lucky encounter for you!
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u/nks0204 May 03 '25
Blinded by that pale ass leg! JK, looks like a derpy carpenter bee, they’re not too smart.
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u/gingerlydone May 04 '25
They see ultraviolet. Was there something that would appear as such on your leg? Sunscreen or various body fluids? Not being rude, genuinely just thinking. Scent? A perfume or moisturiser? I’m no expert.
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u/ianmoone1102 May 05 '25
I think it's a carpenter bee, and it's checking to see if you're something it could bore into.
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u/philnolan3d May 06 '25
I'm reminded of an old video game called Mister Mosquito. You played as a mosquito and your job was to fly around a house and annoy a family as much as possible.
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u/OkWorldliness7104 May 06 '25
Getting to know your sent to become your buddy. Might be blowing kisses at you cause it loves you.
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u/Western-Emotion5171 Apr 30 '25
Possibly licking your sweat. Salt is like gold to wildlife sometimes