Uh oh...
So last night was a hot night in Seattle, and around 10:15 PM (just after it got dark) I noticed three bees had flown into my bedroom though my open balcony doors and were buzzing around the light.
Being a rookie, I thought "not that I mind your company, girls, but what are you doing flying after dark?" and rescued them to outside, then shut all the doors and windows. After that I noticed at least one more bouncing gently against the window trying to get in. Thinking back there was another warm night a few weeks ago where I rescued another bee out of my bedroom, too. I didn't think too much of it. Mosquitoes and flies head for the lights, so it didn't seem surprising that bees might too; though the idea of stinging insects coming in at night was mildly worrisome. No one mentioned that part of backyard beekeeping to me before.
I randomly posted something about the nocturnal visitors, and another beekeeper friend this morning replied that maybe my bees had the zombie parasite.
Seriously? Just when I thought I was starting to know some things about bees, ZOMBIES?
The same friend asked if maybe they were drones; maybe they had been ejected from the hive. I honestly didn't even think to notice if they were drones when I caught them last night.
So...zombies? Drones? Or is coming in the house just after dark to be expected?
I have not noticed any dead bees in my yard anywhere. I do have a lot of birds, though, so possibly they get eaten. I have also not noticed any erratic flight behavior (and I watch the bees a lot.)
These bees were installed as packages, two hives, in late April. They came from California.
After reading online to day about zombies, I guess I should catch them next time and wait and see if they produce fly larvae? Ugh...
And if they are indeed zombies, what next?
Dawn Bustanoby
Seattle, WA
http://www.playapixie.org