Andean bumblebees in Ecuador documented feeding on carrion and feces

Researchers in Ecuador have documented the Andean bumblebee, Bombus funebris, consuming carrion and condor feces, marking the first recorded instance of this behavior in South America. The findings were released by the Ecuadorian National Institute of Biodiversity (Inabio).

The first observation occurred in April 2024 in the Pichincha province during the monitoring of an active Andean condor nest. Researchers noted three bumblebees interacting with both dry and wet condor feces, using their mouthparts to suck liquids for several minutes.

A second instance was recorded in September 2025 in the paramos of the Chakana Reserve. In this case, two bumblebees were observed feeding on the carcass of a calf, with one individual spending approximately 30 minutes interacting with exposed tissues and bones.

While bumblebees are primarily known as pollinators that collect nectar and pollen, scientists suggest this scavenging behavior may be a way to obtain essential nutrients—such as nitrogen, proteins, or amino acids—that are not consistently available in floral resources.