Seasonal behavior change?

The past 2 weeks or so my mature bumble bee male has been going crazy in his tub. I rarely see him in his hide and he's been corkscrewing a fair bit (something I haven't seen him do since the week I brought him home). He cruises all day nosing at the crack at the top of the tub and pushing to try to escape.

My female ghost has also been acting strange. She's out of her hide more than usual and doing the same thing. She's pushing and poking at the gaps trying to get out of the tub. She wraps around the outside of her hide and just sits there poking the front 6 inches of her body at the ceiling and at the corners of the tub.

Temps/humidity have remained stable. There are no signs of mites and I have inspected both for signs of an RI or any other illness. When I take either of them out of the tub they're perfectly normal and healthy looking. They're both eating ravenously although the ghost did refuse this week (I think it's because I accidently spooked her).


Is this a typical seasonal behavior for sexually mature BPs? I'm inclined to say that the bee is 'looking' for her and getting very worked up in the process but I have no real basis for that.

Do spiders get stronger wobble when they're feeling randy?

I would imagine stimulation of any sort could make wobble appear. A couple of mine have been acting weird lately too. My bee, who is 1294 grams, and had never missed a meal a day in her life, hasn't eaten two weeks in a row, and is hanging out on the cool side, and roaming more. My adult male has been Mr. Distructo lately. So far every morning this week I have had to clean up his tub. He ripped his thermometer apart, broke/ripped the cord/wires right out of it. Only one morning it was pee. The others have been destroyed tub. Spilt water or towels all crammed aside and soaking the water out of the bowl. My husband joked that it was his way to get some one on one time everyday. But I was also wondering if these two we being all goofy because they want to breed.

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My 2+ year old male normal has been extremely restless also. He has destroyed the inside of his tub almost every day this week. He also left some sperm plugs for me the other day. I do not currently have any females but man, my male sure is acting like I do.

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Originally Posted by DrDooLittle

My bee, who is 1294 grams, and had never missed a meal a day in her life, hasn't eaten two weeks in a row, and is hanging out on the cool side, and roaming more.

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Same thing with one of my ladies, she is 2200grams, has been eating very well until lately.. She's stopped eating, roaming a lot, trying to get out... I have introduced her once to two of my males (at different times of course) and she has locked with both males, but the last week she wont lock with any of the males either.. She gets calm when she is with a male, but no locks ...

Are you planning to breed that pairing? if so, put them together and see what happens.

Males often go a little stir crazy when they are in the breeding mood.

Sounds like love is in the air. I have noticed some of my BPs do the same thing when it is near breeding season to begin.

My bps have been showing similar behaviour for the past month or so. I wish i could start pairing but i gotta wait! :(

I am planning to breed the pair but really shouldn't in my current housing arrangement.

It's awfully tempting...

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Originally Posted by MrLang

I am planning to breed the pair but really shouldn't in my current housing arrangement.

It's awfully tempting...

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Exact same situation im in lol...

They often get a little crazy during breeding season sometimes even a little aggressive. Most of my bites have come during breeding season... my wife gets like that too sometimes... :weirdface

LOL yeah, I've been a little nervous about working with the bee since he started like this...

My 2 year old 2+ pound male has been really restless lately too. Driving me crazy because there's a slight lip near the top of his cage. He likes to go up there and launch himself off. Makes a huge bang in the middle of the night.

Don't be nervous. The bites aren't bad the bad part is the speed and sock of the strike, I have one that is always quite testy during breeding season I go in and plan on her striking me and am ready for it so it isn't a big surprise when (if) it comes. Sometimes she decides I am ok and lets me go... Bites aren't serious things just surprising. BTW I don't trust her near my face however... I can't imagine a bite on or near an eye would be a fun experience...:O