Bees are incredible. We probably all know the honey bee or the bumblebee but did you know that there are over 250 different species of bee in the UK alone? From the domesticated honeybee to the solitary bees that nest underground. Learn how to identify which bees are buzzing around in your garden, local park, or allotment.
Download your free bee spotting poster
Fill out the form below to download your free bee spotting poster. You can print this out for your home or take it into nature to help you identify just some of the bees that can be found in the UK.
Download your free bee spotting poster
Fill out this form to download your free bee spotting poster.
These illustrations should help you identify just some of the most common bees.
Honey Bee, 'Apis Mellifera'
Honey Bees have a slim, sandy thorax and black abdomen with golden-amber bands.
When to spot them: March - September Where they live: Mostly live in hives and are not truly wild. What they like to eat: Herbs, apples and other orchard fruits, raspberry flowers and much more.
Buff-Tailed Bumblebee, 'Bombus Terrestris'
The Buff Tailed Bumblebee is a large species with dark yellow bands at the front of the thorax and middle of the abdomen, queens are the only ones which actually have buff-coloured tails (workers are very similar to white tail bumble bees). When to spot them: March - August (although in the south of the UK they are becoming winter active). Where they live: in lowland areas, underground, using old nests. What they like to eat: Crops including potatoes, lavender and many flowers especially daisy like flowers.
Garden Bumblebee, 'Bombus Hortorum'
Garden Bumblebees have a yellow-black-yellow thorax, a yellow band at the base of the abdomen, and a pure white tail.
When to spot them: March - October Where they live: Underground in and around grassy areas such as uncultivated fields and mossy areas. What they like to eat: Foxgloves, clover, thistles,honeysuckle and blossom.
Common Carder Bumblebee, 'Bombus Pascuorum'
These big fluffy bees are the only UK species with all-brown (ginger) colouring and no white tail.
When to spot them: March - November Where they live: They can live in urban or woodland settings as well as gardens. What they like to eat: Gorse flowers, bluebells and foxgloves, dandelions, clover and fruit blossoms.
Tree Bumblebee, 'Bombus Hypnorum'
The Tree Bumblebee can be identified by a ginger thorax, black abdomen and white tail.
When to spot them: March - July Where they live: Forests, gardens, old nest boxes, bee hotels. What they like to eat: Bramble fruits, herbs including comfrey.
Hairy Footed Flower Bee, 'Anthophora Plumpies'
The Hairy Footed Flower Bee is black with yellow legs. Males have a brown with a pale face and hair plumes on their middle legs. When to spot them: March - June Where they live: In old walls or within ground nests in walls and banks. What they like to eat: Wallflowers and early blossom, primrose, comfrey, dead nettles, peas and beans.
As you read this, 35 UK bee species face extinction.
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Wool Carder Bees have yellow spots along their abdomen. Males also have prongs on their rear!
When to spot them: May - August Where they live: These solitary bees nesting in existing holes. They will often check into a bee hotel. What they like to eat: Tubular flowering plants including dead nettles, peas and mint.
White Tailed Bumblebee, 'Bombus Lucorum'
White-tailed bumblebees have a bright yellow collar, a yellow abdomen band and a bright white tail
When to spot them: March - November Where they live: Can live just about anywhere but commonly found in hedgerows and heathlands. What they like to eat: Brambles, thistles and hedgerow flowers.
Early Bumblebee, 'Bombus Pratorum'
Early Bumblebees have yellow and black bands and an orange tail. Small size. Males also have yellow facial hair
When to spot them: March - June Where they live: Gardens, parks and woodland, often found in old birds’ nest. What they like to eat: Blossom on fruits such as raspberries and blackberries as well as tomatoes and other garden flowers.
Leaf Cutter Bee, 'Megachilidae'
Leaf Cutter Bees look like a small dark honey bee, with an orange underside. Seen carrying bits of leaf. Broad head and body. Females also have a brush of hairs under the abdomen.
When to spot them: April - August Where they live: In naturally occurring tunnels such as hollow stems or rotten wood. They will happily make use of bee hotels. What they like to eat: As the name suggests the female leaf cutter bees cut leaves on plants like roses, which they glue together to make cells in their tunnels in which their larvae live.
Red Tailed Bumblebee, 'Bombus Iapidarius'
Female red-tailed bumblebees are jet black with a bright red or red-orange tail, while males have a yellow-haired head and collar, and a weak yellow midriffband.
When to spot them: April - November Where they live: Woodland, urban sites, gardens and wildflower meadows and grasslands. What they like to eat: Thistles, buddleia, clover and daisies.
Red Mason Bee, 'Osmia Biconrnis'
These solitary bees have black head, brown thorax and orange abdomen, and in females, a lot of fluff!
When to spot them: March - June Where they live: Often found in wall and wood cavities. They like urban gardens, churchyards and urban green space. If you have a bee or bug hotel its most likely to be a Red Mason Bees who will check-in! What they like to eat: Fruit tree blossoms including plums, strawberries and oilseed rape.
