Will you let me go?
@sabtraversa (12996)
Italy
April 15, 2024 3:27pm CST
I thought visiting a nature reserve on my own would have been easy but I regretted not carrying a machete as I made my way through the jungle.
I heard birds and I wanted to see birds, but I wasn't lucky. My luck must have been spent elsewhere.
Then I was humbled by the wild uneven soil and I felt like I was disturbing the peace of the crawling life as the tall grass kept on shaking, so I decided my time to return to civilization had come.
While I was looking for something that could resemble a trail, I saw a couple of very large bees.
Cute and fuzzy but laaarge.
Yes, they were bumblebees! I don't know if I'm allergic to these so I didn't want to get stung. They seemed too focused on feeding off the flowers to notice me, but the flowers were right where I needed to go. I was kind of desperate as I didn't know how to tell them I didn't want to hurt them and just needed to get through. So I waited for their business to be done, at least along the trail. Meanwhile, I prayed there were no nests nearby, especially in places where my feet could have stepped onto.
As I was leaving the area, the bees were still too close for my liking but they were really enjoying their meal and couldn't care less about my presence.
At last, I made it home safe and sound! 
Yeah, not the most flattering shot but I didn't want to get closer.
Yeah, not the most flattering shot but I didn't want to get closer.19 people like this
15 responses
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
16 Apr
@LadyDuck I was amazed by the size too, if this is just an average worker I imagine the queen being so large I can almost shake hands with her. 
3 people like this
@Orson_Kart (6118)
• United Kingdom
16 Apr
A little song just for you. 
Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn moreRemind me later
3 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
16 Apr
@Orson_Kart Bzz bzz bzz bzz, I loved it! Thank you! 
3 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
16 Apr
@snowy22315 All the walking made me very tired and sore, but it was quite an adventure. I left in the late morning and came back in the early afternoon.
The afternoon was definitely nice as I could rest.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (159359)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr
I remember going to the zoo. You would hear different animals but couldn't actually see them unless they came out of their homes. There were some that were down by the entrance in cages.Sounds like you had an interesting time. Bees will be interested in you if you smell like nectar. Haha
3 people like this
@celticeagle (159359)
• Boise, Idaho
16 Apr
@sabtraversa .......Right. I can't handle seeing animals confined. I can our local one because the animals are ones that are not able to live in the wild due to a wing having to have a wing taken due to injury. I like to visit with the bald eagles here.
2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
16 Apr
@celticeagle I went to the zoo only once, some cages were indeed disappointing.
Thankfully I didn't smell like nectar. 
Thankfully I didn't smell like nectar. 2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
17 Apr
@sallypup Thank you! It almost felt like being in a no man's land.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (58055)
• Centralia, Washington
17 Apr
@sabtraversa Those wild places are special.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29200)
• United Kingdom
15 Apr
I don't know what bumble bees are like there, but the ones here are not at all aggressive. They just get on with their job and ignore everyone else. I guess they are used to being jostled a bit, for example if a large animal walks through the plants they are feeding on, and they take no notice. You can even gently stroke a bee and at worst it will just lift one leg to say 'Leave me alone, I'm busy'.
3 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
16 Apr
@Fleura Here people are usually scared of bumblebees, I think it's due to the fact we often mistakenly call them 'hornets' although that's a different species. We do have a word for bumblebee, it would be Bombo, I don't know why we don't use that... maybe it sounds like they can explode.
But really, they might just be gentle giants. I wish I knew earlier so I could get a closer shot.
But really, they might just be gentle giants. I wish I knew earlier so I could get a closer shot.2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86838)
• United States
16 Apr
@sabtraversa It certainly is my dear. Myself, I do not own a car anymore, and if I want to go, I will. I'll come with you there.
I'll come with you there.2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
16 Apr
@RebeccasFarm Thank you! I really need to get a driving license and a car so I can explore more places, relying on public transportation or my own legs is limiting. At the same time, it's satisfying to see what you can achieve with very little.
I really need to get a driving license and a car so I can explore more places, relying on public transportation or my own legs is limiting. At the same time, it's satisfying to see what you can achieve with very little. 2 people like this
@moffittjc (118529)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Apr
It's not easy getting a good photo of bumblebees, so you did well with your picture!
I love bumblebees, precisely for reasons you mentioned above. One, they are very large, so they are easy to see. Two, they always just seem to ignore us humans as they go about their daily business.
Every spring when my azalea bushes bloom, I will see dozens of large bumblebees hovering all around the flowers. Interestingly, I never see regular bees on my flowers, just the bumblebees.
I'm glad you made it safely back to civilization!
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
20 Apr
@moffittjc Thanks! I was scared and had to watch every step, or I'd have made more attempts. Dozens of bumblebees?! 
It must be very loud!
It must be very loud! 1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118529)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Apr
@sabtraversa Those bees are loud, but not as loud as all the birds nesting in the trees around my house! Nature can be very loud sometimes. Haha
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
29 Apr
@TheHorse Woah, I thought bees were more merciful. 
I didn't consider going barefoot there because there were higher chances the plants would sting me first, good to know bees aren't into feet either. 
I didn't consider going barefoot there because there were higher chances the plants would sting me first, good to know bees aren't into feet either. 1 person likes this
@TheHorse (206257)
• Walnut Creek, California
30 Apr
@sabtraversa I can say with confidence that they don't like being stepped on.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35718)
• Canada
18 Apr
It's a great shot.
Our neighbour keeps honey bees. They spend a lot of time here. We can dump out the bird bath and refill it while they buzz around and wait for fresh water. They really don't want to bother us.
But, if one is under the rim and you grab it, then we get stung. Sometimes it's so hard to notice where they are!
Honey bee stings don't seem to hurt as much as Hornet stings though.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
18 Apr
@paigea Thank you! Yeah, I 'acted' as if they were hornets. I feel kind of silly now, knowing I could have almost 'petted' these large bees with no consequences.
Yeah, I 'acted' as if they were hornets. I feel kind of silly now, knowing I could have almost 'petted' these large bees with no consequences. 1 person likes this
@paigea (35718)
• Canada
18 Apr
@sabtraversa I still don't blame you for being careful. I got stung a few times last summer, just going about my business. They are sometimes not where you expect.
1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
17 Apr
@nela13 Once you get past their size and noise, they're indeed cute.
By the way, glad you see you around!
By the way, glad you see you around! 
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
23 Apr
@sarik1 Thank you! Unfortunately the low quality pic doesn't show how fuzzy the bee was, but I reckon the composition wasn't bad.
Unfortunately the low quality pic doesn't show how fuzzy the bee was, but I reckon the composition wasn't bad.1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
23 Apr
@dya80dya Yeah, their size and noise make them intimidating regardless of their attitude, not gonna lie.
@grenery8 (2399)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
16 Apr
bumblebees are very lazy and i think they wouldn't wanted to harm you but you did the right thing. they always make me laugh how they are so huge but they are still capable to fly i am sorry that your nature field trip wasn't splendid but you gave it all you've got
i am sorry that your nature field trip wasn't splendid but you gave it all you've got2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
16 Apr
@grenery8 They're so loud they seem like operating with an engine and that's probably why they can fly. I wish I knew they were just large fuzzy bees, here for some reason they're often called 'hornets' but true hornets are wasps so it's totally fair to be afraid of them. 
Thank you! It was an experience that hopefully made me wiser. I've been learning new things since I came back home, posted this discussion and did some research.
I also got a few more encounters to share.
Thank you! It was an experience that hopefully made me wiser. I've been learning new things since I came back home, posted this discussion and did some research.
I also got a few more encounters to share.2 people like this
@grenery8 (2399)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
18 Apr
@sabtraversa wasps are a lot worse;a couple of them mildly attacked me when i was at my grandparents' grave a few years ago
but bublebees are loud, for sure i've noticed you are full of knowledge
but bublebees are loud, for sure i've noticed you are full of knowledge1 person likes this
@sabtraversa (12996)
• Italy
17 Apr
@jstory07 Thanks! As I waited for the bees to leave I took a few pictures and made sure these were indeed bumblebees. But I only looked at the photos and didn't read they're usually too lazy to harm people.
As I waited for the bees to leave I took a few pictures and made sure these were indeed bumblebees. But I only looked at the photos and didn't read they're usually too lazy to harm people.1 person likes this
