Most of us have a phobia against bumblebees and cannot bear to have them come close to us, let alone consider having them as pets.
However, one teen who rescued a bumblebee has found that it has not only become her loyal pet but also follows her wherever she goes and even sleeps in a jar by her bed!
Lacey Shillinglaw, 13, spotted a large bumblebee lying in the middle of the road while walking her dog. She picked up the bee and noticed it had a crumpled wing. She placed it in a safe spot on some flowers in a nearby park, but it kept returning to Lacey and crawled all over her.
After an hour, she returned home with the bumblebee, which she named Betty, still sitting on her shoulder. Despite Lacey’s many attempts to leave her outside, Betty refuses to leave Lacey’s side. The bumblebee follows her to the shops and even stayed with her during games at the bowling alley with 14 friends.
Betty stayed on Lacey throughout both games, for two-and-a-half hours. “I’m so happy and I just love spending my time with her,” said the girl from Coventry, West Midlands. “She’s so fluffy and I love our friendship.” Betty perched on the girl’s glasses as she went into her local shop to buy milk, shocking other shoppers.
The insect loves to eat Lacey’s food but also receives its own sugar, water, honey, and strawberry jam. Lacey takes her new pal into the garden to feast on flower nectar. However, as soon as she goes inside the house, the bee follows right behind her.
At night, Lacey tucks Betty into a little pot without a lid beside her bed, where she stays put until morning. During the day, Betty sits on the back of Lacey’s neck or inside her sleeve and buzzes around the living room.
“It’s completely lovely—and also bonkers,” said her mother, Laura.
“Betty climbs in Lacey’s long hair like it’s some kind of jungle. She’s on her 90% of the time during the day, including her face, her glasses, and even in between her toes. It’s so beautiful—just gorgeous,” Laura added.
Betty loves to be stroked between the wings by Lacey but doesn’t bother any other family members, like her mom, dad, and two younger siblings. “We have all the doors open a lot, and she’s just never gone—I haven’t the foggiest why,” said Laura. “Betty is totally amazing—I’ll remember this forever,” says Lacey.
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