Spotting

Description:

I think this is a male Bombus terrestris, owing to its black facial hair, slight buff tinge that was visible on the inner line on the white tail, shiny part to back legs yet lots of hair, and antennae shape. However I just want to be certain ;-) Particularly about whether it's a male or a worker. It was about the size of the tip of my thumb (female thumb ;-) ). Flower head photos should also give size indication.

Habitat:

Garden

Notes:

I would like to know anyone's opinions on why this bee was unwell and died, any tips for future bee A&E! I wonder next time if it might be beneficial to take them in overnight, in a box in my room for extra warmth for them. Also honey controversy... yay or nay? I fed my daughter honey when she was 18 months old despite warnings about reactions because it just seemed so silly... But in hindsight I would be more cautious. Still, what is the percentage of risk when feeding a bee honey from a jar? Story: Afternoon This bee was easy to photograph because sadly it wasn't doing too well! It couldn't fly. It had rested on our washing basket and didn't want to budge. It was a warm, sunny afternoon. After encouragement, I placed it on the flower heads one by one. It only seemed to want to feed from the purple ones depicted, despite more pollen rich flowers and different colours etc. being offered. I did offer it sugar and water but it barely seemed to notice it initially. Once it had fed from all the purple flowers in the garden (I need to remember the name for these), it began to get colder (although not very cold as it had been a warm sunny day, 24°). Evening I made it a shelter for the evening with only a small doorway for maximum warmth, and three flower heads (one dipped in sugar and water, which it seemed to like). Next Morning Then the next morning it had crawled its way out, I put it back on the flowers but it seemed to have less energy. Eventually, it lost the ability to cling to flower stems. I found it twitching its tail back and forth on the floor. I noticed how brown the edges of his wings suddenly appeared. I hadn't noticed that when I looked before. One inner wing suddenly seemed a bit knocked out of place or something. (Pictured). I put him on a rock in a warm place, as it didn't seem like I could do anything else for him, I left him for an hour and he began to pass away. When I came back, his legs were all tucked tightly under him etc. Just in case there was any chance of him perking up (I doubted it though) I tried sugar and water again, to no response, and adding some shade, but he continued to pass on.