Bee ID Guide
Identifying Bees isn’t easy, there are over 200 different species of bees and some look very similar, even for an entomologist identifying bees isn’t always very straightforward.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the fascinating bee species that inhabit our gardens and wild spaces.
Bombus Pratorum
The Early Bumblebee
A small (one of the smallest) bumblebee that can be found all across the UK and is one of the first bees to come out of hibernation.
White-Tailed Bee
The white-tailed bee, also known as the buff-tailed bumblebee is a common species found throughout Europe and parts of Asia.
Bombus Hortorum
Garden Bumblebee
The garden bumblebee is a medium-sized bumblebee commonly found in gardens and parks across Europe. Its distinctive black and yellow colouration makes it easily recognisable.
Bombus Hypnorum
Tree Bumblebee
The tree bumblebee (Bombus Hypnorum) is a relatively new species to the UK, first recorded in 2001. It’s known for nesting in tree cavities and is a valuable pollinator.
Bombus Jonellus
Heath Bumblebee
The heath bumblebee is a small bumblebee species found in heathland and moorland habitats across Europe. Its colouration varies between populations.
Bombus Lapidarius
Red-Tailed Bumblebee
The red-tailed bumblebee is a common and widespread bumblebee species found throughout Europe. Its distinctive red tail makes it easily recognizable.
Bombus Rupestris
Red-Tailed Cuckoo bee
The Red-Tailed Cuckoo Bee is a social parasite of the buff-tailed bumblebee. It lays its eggs in the nest of the host species and relies on the workers to raise its young.
Bombus Ruderarius
Red-shanked carder bee
The Red-shanked carder bee is a declining bumblebee species found in grasslands and heathlands. Its distinctive red legs make it easy to identify.
Bombus Pascuorum
Common Carder bee
The Common carder bee (Bombus Pascuorum) is a widespread bumblebee species found in a variety of habitats across Europe. It has a fuzzy ginger-brown appearance.
Bombus Muscorum
Moss carder bee
The moss carder bee is a small bumblebee species found in upland areas of Europe. It has a distinctive yellow collar and is an important pollinator of heather.
Bombus Humilis
Brown-Banded Carder bee
The brown-banded carder bee is a declining bumblebee species found in grasslands and heathlands. It has distinctive banding on the thorax that makes it easy to identify.
Bombus Sylvarum
Shrill carder bee
The shrill carder bee is a rare bumblebee species found in grasslands and meadows. Its high-pitched buzz is distinctive, and it’s considered endangered in the UK.
Apis Mellifera
Honey bee (European)
The Apis Mellifera, also known as the Western honeybee, is a highly valued species for its role in pollination and honey production. It’s the most widely managed bee species in the world.
Melecta Albifrons
Mourning bee
Melecta Albifrons is a cuckoo bee species that parasitizes the nests of mining bees (Andrena). It is found in Europe and is easily recognizable by its black-and-white colouration.
Anthophora Plumipes
Hairy-Footed Flower Bee
The Hairy-Footed Flower Bee (Anthophora Plumipes) is a solitary bee species found in gardens and urban areas. It has distinctive long hairs on its legs and is an important pollinator.
Megachilidae
Leaf-Cutter bee
The Leaf-Cutter Bee is a solitary bee species that uses pieces of leaves to construct its nests. It’s an important pollinator for many flowering plants.
Chelostoma Campanularum
Small Scissor bee
The Small Scissor Bee (Chelostoma Campanularum) is a solitary bee species found in gardens and woodlands. It uses its scissor-like jaws to cut plant leaves for nest building.
Andrena Fulva
Tawny Mining Bee
The Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) is a solitary bee species found in gardens and parks. It nests in underground burrows and is an important early spring pollinator.
Andrena Cineraria
Ashy Mining bee
The Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena Cineraria) is a solitary bee species found in grasslands and woodlands. Its distinctive ashy grey colouration makes it easily recognizable.
Andrena Haemorrhoa
Orange-Tailed Mining bee
The Orange-Tailed Mining Bee is a solitary bee species found in a variety of habitats, including gardens and woodlands. Its bright orange tail makes it easy to identify.
Osmia Bicornis
Red Mason Bee
The Red Mason Bee (Osmia Bicornis) is a solitary bee species found in gardens and orchards. It’s an efficient pollinator and often nests in hollow plant stems or holes in masonry.
Eucera Longicornis
Long-Horned bee
The Long-Horned Bee is a solitary bee species found in grasslands and woodlands. Its long antennae and hairy body makes it easily recognizable.
Bombus Fervidus
Golden Northern Bumble Bee
Two bumblebee species are referred to as the golden northern bumblebee or yellow bumblebee, namely the Golden Northern Bumblebee (Bombus Fervidus) and the Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus Distinguendus). Both species are native to North America.
Amegilla Cingulata
Blue-Banded Bee
The Blue-Banded Bee is a solitary bee species found in Australia. Its distinctive blue and black striped abdomen makes it easily recognizable. It’s an efficient pollinator of tomato plants.
