Last week I noticed a bee stuck between the layers of my window shade.
I'm allergic to bee stings, so I rolled up the shade and figured I'd
collect the dead bee the next day. Seven days later, the damn thing is
still squirming.

I had assumed no insect could live more than a few days. I've checked
some websites, and was surprised to learn queen bees can live for
several years. One site says that worker bees which develop during
September and October can live through the winter.

Now, I suppose I can believe that a bee could survive the winter
encased in a hive. But this particular bee can't feed, or move, or do
whatever a bee does. It's rolled in a window shade. Obviously I'll
have to risk getting stung and swat the little bugger, but I'd still
like someone to explain to me how it has survived.

I can't asnwer your question, but I may have a suggestion about how to
get the bee without getting stung !

If you have a vacuum cleaner (not a 'sweeper' style - but a vacuum
with a hose), just use the hose to suck him into the bag where he can
die at his own pace.  I often have mothballs in my bag as it freshens
the air as I use the vacuum (I like the smell of mothballs) - and I
imagine that this would help kill the insect.

Hope this helps ...

Why not just take the window shade outside and unroll it out there.
You don't have to hang around while it figures out that it's free to
go, just go inside awhile and collect the window shade later.

Cheers,
hummer