Overview of UK Bees
This article for bee identification is a work in progress, designed to grow into a comprehensive guide for all bee species in the UK. Future updates will include detailed profiles of individual species, habitat preferences, and tips for conservation efforts.
Our goal? To help you easily spot, understand, and appreciate these amazing pollinators. Whether you’re a gardener, a wildlife enthusiast, or just curious about bees, this guide will grow with detailed insights about their traits, behaviors, and importance.
Bee identification is the key to recognizing the incredible diversity of pollinators like Honey Bees, Bumblebees, Solitary Bees, and Cuckoo Bees. Knowing how to identify these species is essential for protecting their habitats, supporting conservation efforts, and ensuring that ecosystems remain balanced and crops continue to thrive.
Each of these species plays a vital role in keeping ecosystems thriving and crops growing—and they’re pretty fascinating to watch, too!
Honey Bees (Apis spp.)
Honey bees are like the celebrities of the bee world. Their incredible teamwork in hive building, honey production, and efficient pollination makes them stand out as some of the most important insects in ecosystems. With their golden-brown bodies and hive-based teamwork, they’re hard to miss. You’ll often spot them buzzing purposefully around gardens and fields. To recognize them, check out their medium size, compact shape, and efficient, no-nonsense flight patterns.
Honey Bees (UK)
Western Honey Bee
(Apis Mellifera)
Dark European Honey Bee
(Apis Mellifera Mellifera)
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.)
Bumblebees are the clumsy giants of the bee family. Despite their seemingly awkward movements, they are incredibly efficient pollinators, transferring pollen between flowers as they bumble about. They’re big, fuzzy, and striped with bold yellow and black patterns—sometimes even red or white tails. You’ll know it’s a bumblebee by its loud buzz and adorable bumbling as it moves from flower to flower.
Bumble Bees
Early Bumble bee
(Bombus pratorum)
Tree Bumble Bee
(Bombus hypnorum)
Red Tailed Black
(Bombus lapidarius)
Banded White Tail
(Bombus lucorum)
Common Carder bee
(Bombus pascuorum)
Brown Banded Carder
(Bombus humilis)
Shrill Carder Bee
(Bombus sylvarum)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee
(Bombus terrestris)
Garden Bumblebee
(Bombus hortorum)
Heath Bumblebee
(Bombus jonellus)
Field Cuckoo Bumblebee
(Bombus campestris)
Gypsy Cuckoo Bumblebee
(Bombus bohemicus)
Forest Cuckoo Bumblebee
(Bombus sylvestris)
Large Garden Bumblebee
(Bombus ruderatus)
Broken-belted Bumblebee
(Bombus soroeensis)
Bilberry Bumblebee
(Bombus monticola)
Great Yellow Bumblebee
(Bombus distinguendus)
Northern White-tailed Bumblebee
(Bombus magnus)
Short-haired Bumblebee
(Bombus subterraneus)
Red-shanked Carder Bee
(Bombus ruderarius)
Solitary Bees
Unlike their social cousins, solitary bees prefer to work alone. These independent little creatures come in all kinds of colors, from shiny metallic shades to subtle earthy tones. Look out for Leafcutter Bees, Red Mason Bees, and Mining Bees—they’re tiny powerhouses when it comes to pollination.
Solitary Bees
Red-girdled Mining Bee
(Andrena labiata)
Wool Carder Bee
(Anthidium manicatum)
Willoughby’s Leaf Cutter Bee
(Megachile willughbiella)
Red Mason Bee
(Osmia bicornis)
Tawny Mining Bee
(Andrena fulva)
Ashy Mining Bee
(Andrena cineraria)
Early Mining Bee
(Andrena haemorrhoa)
Buffish Mining Bee
(Andrena nigroaenea)
Vestal Cuckoo Bee
(Bombus vestalis)
Green Eyed Flower Bee
(Anthophora bimaculata)
Orange-vented mason bee
(Osmia leaiana)
Common Furrow Bee
(Lasioglossum calceatum)
Long-Horned Bee
(Eucera longicornis)
Goodens Nomad Bee
(Nomada goodeniana)
Ivy Mining Bee
(Colletes hederae)
Davies' Colletes Bee
(Colletes daviesanus)
Small Carpenter Bee
(Ceratina cyanea)
Hairy-footed Flower Bee
(Anthophora plumipes)
Patchwork Leafcutter Bee
(Megachile centuncularis)
Yellow-legged Mining Bee
(Andrena flavipes)
Yellow-faced Bee
(Hylaeus spp.)
Pantaloon Bee
(Dasypoda hirtipes)
Orange-legged Furrow Bee
(Halictus rubicundus)
Silvery Leafcutter Bee
(Megachile leachella)
Small Scissor Bee
(Chelostoma florisomne)
Harebell Carpenter Bee
(Chelostoma campanularum)
Cliff Mining Bee
(Andrena thoracica)
Common Mourning Bee
(Lasioglossum calceatum)
Shaggy Furrow Bee
(Lasioglossum villosulum)
Grey-patched Mining Bee
(Andrena nitida)
Orange-tip Mining Bee
(Andrena fulvago)
Smeathman’s Furrow Bee
(Lasioglossum smeathmanellum)
Cuckoo Bees
Cuckoo Bees are like the sneaky masterminds of the bee world. They mimic the appearance and sometimes the behavior of their host species to blend in, allowing them to infiltrate nests and lay their eggs undetected. They don’t build their own nests—instead, they lay their eggs in the nests of other bees. These tricksters even mimic their hosts to stay undercover. Spotting them is a real treat for anyone into the quirky side of nature.
Key Traits for Bee Identification in the UK
1. Size and Shape
- Small: Solitary Bees (6-12mm), slender bodies.
- Medium: Honey Bees (12-15mm), compact and oval-shaped.
- Large: Bumblebees (up to 25mm), robust and round.
Looking at a bee’s size and shape is an easy first step to figuring out what type it is.
2. Color and Markings
- Honey Bees: Golden-brown with uniform patterns.
- Bumblebees: Bold yellow and black stripes, sometimes with red or white tails.
- Solitary Bees: A mix of colors, often metallic or muted.
Pay attention to these visual details—they’re a big help in telling different species apart.
3. Behavior
- Bumblebees: Clumsy and methodical as they forage.
- Honey Bees: Focused and efficient in their movements.
- Solitary Bees: Often seen hovering or digging into the ground.
Watching how a bee moves can give you major clues about what type it is.
4. Seasonal Activity
- Spring: Queen bumblebees, Red Mason Bees, and Mining Bees emerge.
- Summer: Peak activity for all species.
- Autumn: Ivy Bees and Buff-tailed Bumblebees forage on late-blooming plants.
- Winter: Buff-tailed Bumblebees might venture out in mild weather.
Knowing when bees are active can help you figure out what species you’re seeing.
Conclusion
Getting to know UK bees is not just fun—it’s an important way to help protect these vital pollinators. By checking out their size, colors, behavior, and seasonal activity, you’ll become a pro at identifying them in no time. From the busy honey bee to the solo Red Mason Bee, every species plays a part in keeping nature’s balance.
Creating a wildlife-friendly garden is one of the best ways to support bees and other pollinators — learn how to get started here.
Want to dive deeper? Explore tips for creating bee-friendly gardens or learn more about what pollinators are up to throughout the year. Every step you take helps support these amazing creatures and their crucial work.
Looking for more ways to create a bee-friendly environment? Check out these practical tips from the WWF here.
