You have found a bee on the ground. Here is what to do in the next five minutes.
Quick check
- Is it moving at all? A grooming, shuffling bee is resting, not dying.
- Are there flowers nearby? Move it to a bloom if you can.
- Has it sat still for ten minutes or more? It may need food.
Step one: do not panic
Most bees on the ground are resting, not dying. A bee will stop to warm up or wait out a cold breeze. Give it a few minutes and watch.
Step two: check for flowers
Look for a flower close by. Guide the bee onto a petal with a leaf or a piece of card. Nectar is the best food there is, and the bee will take it from there.
Step three: if there are no flowers
At home, offer a drop of sugar water. Here is the safe way of using sugar water at home. Out and about, our bee revive kit keeps bee-safe syrup on your keys, ready in seconds.
Step four: give it time
Step back and let the bee feed. Recovery takes five to twenty minutes. The bee will warm its wings, then fly off when it is ready.
When you cannot help
Not every bee can be saved. If there is no change after a long rest and a feed, move the bee to a sheltered spot off the ground. For the full method, see our complete bee revival guide.