Bees are pollinators that play a role in ecosystems and agriculture. A common question arises regarding their interaction with water and whether they can survive submersion. While bees require water for various processes, including maintaining osmotic balance, diluting honey, and cooling their hives, accidental immersion can pose a significant threat to their survival.
How Bees Drown
Bees do not possess lungs like mammals; instead, they have a specialized respiratory system. Air enters their bodies through small openings called spiracles, located along their thorax and abdomen. Ten pairs of these spiracles act as gateways for oxygen to enter a network of tracheal tubes and air sacs, delivering oxygen directly to their cells.
When a bee falls into water, these spiracles can become blocked, preventing oxygen intake. Their delicate wings, covered in tiny hairs, also become waterlogged, making flight impossible and hindering movement. If the spiracles remain obstructed, the bee essentially suffocates due to a lack of oxygen.
Factors Influencing Bee Survival in Water
A bee’s ability to survive in water depends on several factors, including the duration of submersion and its physiological state. Bees can temporarily close their spiracles, holding their breath for up to five minutes. This mechanism helps prevent immediate drowning, but does not enable indefinite survival.
The type and temperature of the water also influence survival. Bees are more likely to struggle in chlorinated water or water with high surface tension, as these impede their ability to escape. While some bumblebee queens have shown remarkable resilience, surviving up to a week underwater in studies under specific conditions like hibernation, this is due to significantly lowered metabolism. If a bee cannot escape quickly, exhaustion leads to drowning.
Helping Bees Avoid Water Traps
Providing safe water sources is an effective way to prevent bees from drowning. Gardeners can offer shallow dishes or birdbaths filled with water, adding pebbles, marbles, or corks that extend above the waterline. These elements provide secure landing spots for bees to drink without falling in. Bees tend to prefer minimal water depth, like a wet surface, making these shallow stations ideal.
If a bee is found struggling in water, gentle intervention can sometimes save it. Carefully scoop the bee out using a leaf, stick, or hand, and place it on a dry surface in direct sunlight. The bee will then groom itself to dry its wings. Offering a small drop of sugar water (a mixture of sugar and water) near, but not on, the bee can also provide a quick energy boost, aiding its recovery.