One of the country's leading bee organisations has calmed residents' fears after hundreds of the much-loved insects were found dead in Wandsworth Park.
The discovery was made by Putney resident Paul Williams who spotted the crippled insects dotted around the park, on Putney Bridge Road, while walking his dogs on Monday morning.
It was initially feared the bees may have succumbed to the recent spell of hot weather or even pesticides.
The Wandsworth Guardian contacted the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (BCT) who immediately knew the bees were buff-tailed bumblebees.
Their experts were also able to explain why so many of the insects had perished so suddenly.
Anthony McCluskey, from the BCT, said: "Dead bumblebees are often found in large numbers in parks and gardens because that’s where they feed.
"The deaths are mostly natural, as bumblebee workers only live outside of the nest for a few weeks to a month.
"They die because of naturally present diseases and injuries such as broken wings and simple old age.
"For some reason, the bumblebees keep trying to feed from the empty flowers, become lethargic, and die and drop off the flowers.
"Honeybees seem to be able to realise when the flowers are low in nectar, and fly elsewhere to feed."
Unlike their honeybee counterparts bumblebees cannot survive the winter, although the queen of both species does survive.
So once the bumblebees have completed their life's work, they no longer have any use and pass away.
This year's unusual spring weather has also contributed to the demise of the bumblebee.
The bumblebee can also only carry 45 minutes worth of food so, with the rapid depletion of pollen this summer, it is possible the insects may have starved.
Mr McCluskey added: "Spring started and then stopped abruptly, causing a sorts of problems for the bumblebee.
"Summer started very early and the bees will have peaked en masse, rather than at different times.
"This may explain why so many died so close to each other, because they synchronised."
Bee facts.
- There are nearly 20,000 known species of bees in seven to nine recognized families.
- There are approximately 260 species of bee in the UK, including 24 species of wild bees such as bumblebees.
- Bees live in colonies and there are three types of bees in each colony. The queen bee, the worker bee and the drone.
- They make honey to feed their young and also so they have something to eat during the winter when they hibernate.
- Bees see all colours except the colour red.
- it is this and their sense of smell that helps them find the flowers they need to collect pollen.
- Some of this pollen is dropped in flight, resulting in cross pollination.
- Bees are small but mighty pollinators that are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we take.
- Certain species of bees die after stinging because their stingers, which are attached to their abdomen, rip away when they fly off.
- Bumblebees, however, can repeatedly sting their victim, but generally only attack when provoked.
- In April 2013 the European Union announced plans to restrict the use of certain pesticides to stop bee populations from declining further.
- Albert Einstein once said that if bees disappeared from earth, man would follow four years later.
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