The UK has over 270 different bee species, which are split into 3 groups: honey bees, bumblebees, and solitary bees.
Each type is a group of insects that are characterised by their behaviours and similar appearance, although they are all unique.
As experts in bee relocation throughout Maidstone and Kent, Pest-Tech has put together this handy guide to UK bee species.
Bumblebees
Bumblebees are what we often think of when we imagine bees, but they’re not just one species, but multiple different types of bees that form small colonies around a queen bee. These species are then separated into further groups depending on their colouring, split into white-tailed bumblebees, red-tailed bumblebees and ginger-yellow bumblebees. Some of the most common species of bumblebees found in the UK include the following.
The Common Carder Bee
One of the most common bumblebees in the UK, the common carder bee is a fluffy ginger-yellow bumblebee with dark stripes on its abdomen.
The Early Bumblebee
Early bumblebees are small bumblebees with a bright orange tail and high contrast yellow and black stripes on their bodies.
The Tree Bumblebee
Also known as Bombus Hypnorum, tree bumblebees are a relatively new bee species in the UK, having first been sighted in the early 2000s, and have a white tail and an orange/ ginger thorax.
The Red-Tailed Bumblebee
Red-tailed bumblebees (Bombus Lapidarius) are commonly found in woodland edges, hedgerows, large gardens, farms and heaths. Females are large black bumblebees with a bright red tail, while male red-tailed bumblebees have a yellow head and red tail.
The Garden Bumblebee
Garden bumblebees are large bees that have long antennae and a thin, hooked nose that can be used to feed from deep, tubular flowers like foxgloves.
The Buff-Tailed Bumblebee
The largest species of bumblebee found in the UK, buff-tailed bumblebees are named after the buff-coloured tails of their queen, while the workers have white tails, making them easy to mistake for white-tailed bumblebees, a different species entirely.
The White-Tailed Bumblebee
White-tailed bumblebees are fluffy bees with two large yellow stripes, deep black bands and a white tail. Found in most habitats throughout the UK, they eat from almost any wild flowering plants.
Honey Bees
The UK only has one species of honey bees: the Apis Mellifera, also known as the European honey bee. These bees are heavily domesticated and used by beekeepers throughout the country to produce honey.
Queen European honey bees are thin with a defined waist and a striped abdomen, and are often mistaken for wasps. Worker European honey bees are much smaller and have a less defined waist, while the drones have a large abdomen.
Solitary Bees
Most of the bee species found in the UK are solitary bees, meaning they don’t have the same nesting habits as bumblebees and honey bees. Instead of creating a colony with a queen bee and workers, the females are responsible for running their nests and the males live alone.
Solitary bees don’t usually build nests from wax, and instead use existing structures, such as bird boxes, underground or inside dead wood. These bees aren’t usually aggressive, and have a short lifespan of just a few weeks to a couple of months.
There are also several different categories of solitary bees: mining bees, sweet bees and flower bees. Mining bees are the most common genus of solitary bees in the UK, but there are plenty of different species in the country.
The Ivy Bee
A relative newcomer to the UK, the ivy bee is a large bee with a densely haired ginger thorax and distinct broad orange/yellow striped abdomen. Learn more by reading our blog post about the ivy bee.
The Ashy Mining Bee
One of the most distinctive species thanks to its grey and black striped body, the ashy mining bee is relatively docile and doesn’t have a stinger long enough to penetrate human flesh. This species will pollinate almost anything, and like all mining bees they dig holes in the ground to build their nests.
The Red Mason Bee
Mason bees are a type of bees that use mud and dirt to create their nests inside pre-existing holes. The red mason bee is one of the most common of this type, and has a distinctive fluffy gingery/ red abdomen. Male red mason bees have a patch of white fur on their faces and longer antennae than the females, and are usually smaller.
The Early Mining Bee
Early mining bees are so-called because they are one of the first bee species to emerge in the spring. These bees have a fluffy ginger thorax and a red-tipped tail.
The Wool Carder Bee
One of the largest species of solitary bees, wool carder bees are distinctive as they have vertical, rather than horizontal, stripes of yellow up the sides of their bodies. Unlike many species, males are larger than female wool carder bees, and the males have spines on their abdomens for defensive purposes.
The Hairy Footed Flower Bee
Hairy footed flower bees look a lot like bumblebees, and have a distinctive way of flying by darting in every direction. Male and females of this species look very different, as the females are almost entirely black with orange hind legs, while males have a rusty brown thorax and face.
The Leafcutter Bee
Sometimes known as leaf-cutting bees, this species is named after its distinctive nesting habits. Female leafcutter bees will use their strong mandibles (jaw-like implements) to cut a circular hole in leaves. She then takes the cut-out pieces back to her nest, which is usually inside an existing cavity, such as a bird box or other animal nest. She will then place pollen and nectar inside for the young to eat, lay her egg on top and seal it with another leaf piece. Similar in appearance to honey bees, leafcutter bees have bright orange hairs under their abdomens.
What To Do If You Find Bees On Your Property
This guide offers an insight into some of the most common bee species found in the UK. There are many other bees in the country, and many bees are endangered due to issues such as lack of habitat, climate change and pesticide use.
As such, it’s important that we all work together to protect bees. Bee conservation is something we’re passionate about here at Pest-Tech, which is why we remove bees and relocate them to new hives where they can thrive.
Our team have helped many common UK species of bees, and we continue to focus on helping them to going forward.
Where possible, if you find bees on your property, you should leave them alone. They may not be nesting there, and may simply be visiting to find food. Some homeowners build bee hotels to give bees a resting place, or provide sugar water to bees they see looking tired.
Another way to help bees is to plant flowers that offer a continuous source of nectar and pollen. Some of bee’s favourite plants include lavender, asters, bird’s foot trefoil and fruit trees.
If you notice bee nests appearing in your garden or inside your property, then it might be time to seek professional help. Bee nests are often built in tight spaces, such as inside wall cavities, chimneys and roofs, which can cause structural damage if left unattended. So, to protect your property, you should book professional bee removal.
As well as bee relocation, Pest-Tech can also carry out wasp control and get rid of hornets, so if you’re unsure of the species you’re dealing with, we can still assist. Covering Maidstone, Kent and the surrounding areas, we can relocate the bees to urban green spaces or more remote countryside areas where they won’t cause problems for humans.
If you notice bees on your property and want advice or support, contact us on 01622 296055 or by emailing admin@pest-tech.org and a member of our experienced team will be happy to help.