Bees are wonderful creatures, a vital part of our ecosystem and the key to maintaining balance in the natural world. Unfortunately, continued human expansion is removing more green space every year and bee populations are declining. Thankfully, you can do something simple to help, by building your own bee hotel in your garden. When we […]
A healthy honeybee colony can have as many as 50,000-60,000 individuals and in 2017 the UK government estimated the number of hives at 247,000. That means there could be as many as 1.23 million honeybees in the UK, however, the number is likely to be much less than this. The fate of British bees is […]
You have probably heard the phrase 'busy as a bee' and this comes directly from the intricate and fast-paced lives of a bee colony. The inner workings of a beehive are key to bee survival and it can make or break a colony. Conditions need to be just right to support the entire colony, encourage […]
Bees are famous for producing honey, but they also produce and build with honeycomb. Not all bees produce honey so which species do? How do bees make honeycomb? What is the purpose of honeycomb? Keep reading to learn the answer to these questions and more! What Is Honeycomb? Honeycomb is a natural product produced by […]
Springtime is marked by the arrival of bees, wasps and butterflies. Many people find these critters annoying or even frightening, but they play a vital role in the health of their ecosystem and also in the success of the world's food production Bees are pollinators, meaning many crops rely on them for fertilisation. Without bees, […]
Nobody likes being caught out by rain, but for bees, a downpour is potentially life-threatening. Bees are capable of short flights during a light drizzle of rain, but a heavier rain shower is a definite problem. Therefore, it is important that you know how to save a drowning or wet bee. Bees have very fine […]
The carpenter bee is one of over 220 solitary bee species in the UK. They are so called thanks to their nesting behaviours; carpenter bees burrow into soft wood to lay their eggs. Unfortunately, as humans expand into rural areas, carpenter bees are more frequently building their nests in the sidings of homes and this […]
When you find a tired bee in your home, it's probably exhausted from flying around looking for nectar and pollen all day. If so, you're probably wondering what to feed a bee? Feed the poor insect with a fresh sugar water solution to give them their strength back! To make this simple solution for an […]
Honeybee History Honeybee species first appeared during the Cretaceous period, which began approximately 450 million years ago and ended 60 million years ago. At that time, the layout of the world was vastly different, as were honeybees and their habitat. Australia, India, Antarctica, Africa and South America were one large supercontinent called Gondwana. The climate […]
Everyone knows that bee season starts in spring, but the action really ramps up in early summer. What do bees do in summer that they can't do the rest of the year? Quite a bit! Everything from climate control to nest maintenance, food production and caring for young, summer is the busiest time of year […]
The Lifecycle of the Honeybee Whether you are just starting out as a beekeeper or you are simply interested to learn about these buzzing beauties, the lifecycle of the honeybee will certainly captivate your curiosity. In the beekeeping profession, bees are often referred to as castes. A caste is a group of individuals within the […]
When we think about bees and what they symbolise, there are many different aspects of life to consider. Almost every part of our existence can be symbolic of a bee's nature, the way they live or how they work. What a bee symbolises can have a profound effect on every part of our life, from […]
We are very excited to announce that Revive a Bee is now crowdfunding on Indiegogo! We want to expand our bee revival product offering by creating a gold and black version of our bee revival keyring. We're aiming to raise £1000 in total, this is the perfect opportunity to purchase our black and gold keyrings […]
We've created the A-Z of Bees and arranged them into cool flashcards! Did you ever have flashcards when you were a kid? Here at Revive a Bee we all have memories of playing different memory games with our parents. With so many different bee species and so much to learn about the environment we wanted […]
The lost bees need our help! We're celebrating this easter by giving away a huge 30% discount on your basket total. Sadly we haven't had time to hide any eggs this year because we've been too busy looking for the lost bees. Can you help us find all the lost bees? Don't worry, there is […]
Bee Boost Keyring is needed now more than ever. On Saturday the 20th of March we celebrated the 2021 spring equinox, which marks the first day of astronomical spring. It's this time of year that bees need our help the most. Spring Blossom Watch - Give Bees a Boost The temperature is changing, the sun […]
To save a grounded bee you can just create a simple sugar syrup at home using granulated sugar and tap water. Mix two parts water to one part granulated white sugar to create a sugar solution ideal for saving grounded bees that need a quick energy boost. Should I feed a grounded bee sugar water? […]
This gorgeous watercolour print of the Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) is now available to purchase on Etsy. This one of a kind watercolour was created by a friend of ours who's talent never fails to amaze us. This high-quality digital print will be the perfect addition to any nature-friendly home. The perfect gift for a […]
Habitat loss is a significant threat to bee populations worldwide, but how does it affect bees and their ability to thrive? From residential expansion to increases in agricultural productivity, thousands of bee species are suffering population decline and hundreds are at risk of extinction. Understanding how habitat loss will affect bees is the key to […]
Solitary bees are vital to the ecosystem, and are known to pollinate with incredible efficiency. Crop production benefits from the excellent cross-pollination abilities of solitary bees such as the red mason bee, certain type of plants are specialized to only be pollinated by certain bee species. Our gardens are often filled with honeybees and bumblebees, […]
Before you can truly answer which insects are pollinators, you must first understand what pollinators are. What are pollinators? In short, a pollinator is any animal that transfers pollen from the male anther to the female stigma of a flower/plant. This process of moving pollen between flowers allows plants to reproduce and is essential to […]
When you think of bees, you will probably immediately think of fuzzy bumblebees, their bums coated with pollen as they jump from flower to flower, or busy little honey bees carrying nectar back to the hive to make into that sweet syrup we all know and love. The mention of solitary bees seems to throw […]
The world of bees and pollinators is complex and has a much bigger impact on our lives than most people realise, but bee populations all over the world are declining at an alarming rate. This leads us to the question 'How much of our food supply do bees pollinate?'. In the UK there are 25 […]
We've been busy bees and the hives had an upgrade! We love our new website but it's not finished and we need your help!! Post any of your bee-related photos to our social media and remind us all of warmer times and cheer everyone up With your prior permission, we will be adding some of […]
Differences in bees reproduction across the species Just like many other insects, there are many different kinds of species of bee and their reproductive processes vary wildly across both biology and practices. So to truly answer the question 'How Do Bees Mate?' we must first look at the differences across species: The short answer Honeybee […]
Summer has passed and Autumn is quickly turning in to a chilly wet Winter in the UK. Bees of all species are taking shelter and sighting of our little friends are becoming fewer. If you do see a bee at this time of year chances are it could be in a bit of bother so […]
When we created Revive a Bee our goal was to make a bee revival kit that was not only great for humans but great for bees as well, which led us to Invertbee. We looked at the best possible solutions (no pun intended) to fill our thirst aid kits. The obvious option was the classic […]
While there isn't one single answer to how long does a bee live for, the western honeybee worker lives for between 35 - 180 days based on several factors including season and location. Bumblebee workers live for less time in between 13-41 days. How Long do honeybees live for? Type Of Honeybee Life Cycle Queen […]
You can learn how to save a dehydrated bee in three easy steps just by following our simple guide below. step 1: assess if your bee is in need of help If you find a tired bee in a garden full of pollen and nectar-rich flowers, chances are it may have come to the end […]
Bees have been helping humans for thousands of years. Pollinating plants is essential to the survival of the planet as we know it, but there are other fascinating ways bees have affected human life, in both past and present. So here we have 5 amazing lesser-known facts about bees. 1. bees can be trained to […]
I've always thought about where bees go and how they survive over winter and I'm not talking about honey bees. This topic mostly refers to the solitary British bees and how adverse weather conditions can have unfavourable effect on the vulnerable bee population. With so many different species of bee and a changing climate our […]
The hornet holds the title of the biggest eusocial wasp. Growing to over 2 inches in length these formidable insects are a marvel to look at. Their appearance is very similar to that of a yellow jacket wasp apart from their gargantuan size. Just like honeybees and bumblebees, the hornet lives in a nest with […]
Every hive needs a queen to lay and fertilise eggs and the queen's pheromones ensure the continued reign over the other bees in the hive. But what happens when a queen bee dies, is lost to a predator or expires unexpectedly? What happens when a queen bee dies If a colony loses its queen due […]
Have you ever looked out across a field or a meadow of wildflower buzzing with bees and thought, why do bees collect pollen? I'm going to take a detailed look into how and why bees collect pollen and it's purpose. Bumblebees, solitary bees and honeybees all collect pollen in the UK but for this evaluation, […]
Inside every hive is a complex system of life that is constantly reproducing and replacing itself. This process requires 3 types of bee in the hive that all have a part to play in ensuring the colonies survival. It is important to understand that in this article I will be talking about the European honey […]
It's never been so important to create a bee-friendly garden, bees are responsible for pollinating approximately 75% of flowers and crops in the UK. The best thing about creating a bee-friendly garden is that you get to admire your good work. Bees of all kinds will buzz from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen […]
We've never been more aware of the plight of the bees. With bee populations struggling due to several external factors like habitat destruction, industrial farming, disease and parasites. It's important to understand that not all bees need or use bee hotels. When you install a bee hotel in you are actively helping solitary bees such […]
The classic honeycomb appearance of a beehive is an iconic image. From my very early years, I can remember the hexagonal patterns adorning my favourite storybooks. I always imagined beehives to be the equivalent of pubs for us, where bees go and guzzle honey together and reminisce after a hard day of collecting nectar and […]
Bee reproduction is a complex process with requires forward planning and teamwork on a grand scale. The process requires help from all the bees in the hive to ensure the species survival. This delicate dance of life is essential to crop pollination globally and is responsible for 75% of pollination in the United Kingdom. Honeybees […]
Honeybees are responsible for pollinating around 75% of the United Kingdom's fruit, vegetables and nuts. This essential service is in fact a secondary benefit of the honeybees primary goal. Honey provides a perfect source of food for long winters in the hive and has been a source of precious calories for other mammals for millions […]
Getting stung by a bee is no fun so I've put together this extensive guide to bee sting first aid. Chances are you've been stung by a bee once in your life but whether you have or not this guide will take you through all the steps of proper sting care. The 8 steps of […]
Swarms of bees have been seen all across the United Kingdom. This leads us to the question 'Why Do Bees Swarm?'. First, we need to shortly address that it is only the honeybee that swarms in the UK. The short answer to why do bees swarm? When a honeybee hive population reaches breaking point it […]
Why do bees die if they sting you? A simple question with a not so simple answer. To begin with, only one type of bee actually dies when it stings you. Unlike other stinging insects, the honey bee has to give up its life to defend the hive or itself. Believe it or not, there […]
The honey bee is responsible for huge swathes of our food production so it's about time we learnt a little bit about our furry black and yellow friends. I'll be adding to this post over time so if there's anything you think I've missed let me know in a comment below. A Brief History Of […]
