Bumblebees – There are 24 different species of bumblebee in the UK. They vary in size and colour but are generally round and furry with a coloured stripe on the tip of their tail. Bumblebees are not aggressive and make excellent pollinators. They will sometimes nest in brickwork and air vents but should be left alone as they will die out by Autumn. This is sadly why, as the weather gets cooler, exhausted bumblebees are often spotted in our gardens and public spaces.

Mining bees – Mining bees are categorised as solitary bees. There are around 65 species of mining bee in the UK and they all belong to the Andrena genus (the largest genus of bees in the UK). They are generally very small and can be identified by their sharp pointed tongues. As their name suggests, mining bees will nest in the ground (creating volcano-looking structures in the soil) and occupy a wide range of habitats across the UK.

Flower bees – There are five species of flower bees in the UK. They look like a mixture of bumblebee and mining bee. They nest in the soil but have much more rounded bodies than mining bees. They are another species of solitary bee, meaning they do not produce large nests or hives. Some of these species are highly localised and can exhibit drastic sexual dimorphism.

Carpenter and digger bees - Carpenter bees are a diverse group of bees and can be best identified by their behaviour. They will tunnel into trees, wood and houses. They look similar to bumblebees, but slightly slimmer and males do not have a stinger.

Violet carpenter bee (*Xylocopa violacea*)

Leafcutter bees – Possibly the most unique of all UK bee species, the leafcutter bee will use its large jaws to harvest leaves to build its nest. There are seven species in Britain, all of which are dark brown but with much lighter hairs, giving them an almost iridescent look. They are only active through the warmer months of the year when females will gather leaves to build nests in naturally occurring tunnels. Leafcutter bees benefit greatly from members of the public installing ‘bee hotels’ in their garden. Interestingly, over 40 pieces of leaf are required to make one nesting chamber for leafcutter bee larvae.

Mason bees – Mason bees are considered ‘sweat bees’ as they are drawn to people's sweat. They are mostly solitary but can exhibit eusociality. They are complex and often the subject of bee behavioural studies. There are 40 species of ‘sweat bee’ including the mason bees and the yellow-faced bees. There are 11 species of mason bee, which are all entirely different. Some will nest in snail shells, others in specific plant stems, some are generalist pollinators whilst others are very specific. Generally, they are smaller than a honeybee, with metallic colouration and very faint stripes (which are never yellow or red).

Horned mason orchard bee (*Osmia cornuta*)

Masked and Plasterer bees – There are 11 species of yellow-faced bees. All are about 7mm long, with black bodies and (you guessed it) yellow faces. They are the only group of bees that do not have any pollinating apparatus. Instead, they collect pollen in their crop and regurgitate it back at the nest. This is what gives them their other name of “plasterer” or “polyester” bees. They use the waterproof secretions to protect their nest. They are short-tongued, with a heart-shaped face and only collect pollen from a limited range of plants including daisies, ivy and heather. They only occur at lower elevations and only in limited areas.

Honeybees – Honeybees are slimmer than bumblebees, with golden striped bodies. They are the most seen variety of bees and will forage on a plethora of plants. Almost all honeybees in the UK are part of a domesticated hive and there is only one native species of honeybee left, the European dark honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera). The other honeybees have been produced in the UK for centuries and are therefore mostly hybrids of other species.

European dark honeybee (*Apis mellifera mellifera*)

Cuckoo bees – These bees infiltrate other bee’s nests to lay their eggs. Because they have no need to harvest pollen, they are hairless, slim and have bright yellow and black banding. Although they share a similar face structure as most bees, their misleading appearance makes them look just like wasps.

Vestal cuckoo bumblebee (Bombus vestalis)

To learn more about bees and beekeeping from members of the British Beekeepers Association be sure to pick up this month’s copy of Exotics Keeper Magazine.

A brief introduction to the UK’s 200+ species of bee

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