Help with your Bees

The British honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera), often called the British Black Bee or Native Dark Honey Bee, is the honey bee that evolved naturally in Britain and northern Europe after the last Ice Age. It is a dark, robust bee well adapted to the cool, damp, and changeable conditions of the British climate.

The Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) is one of Britain's most common and important pollinating insects. Recognisable by its black body, yellow bands, and buff-coloured tail, it is a hardy and adaptable species that thrives in a wide range of habitats. Active for much of the year, it plays a vital role in the pollination of wild plants, fruit, and agricultural crops.

The Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) is a widespread social wasp native to the United Kingdom. Recognisable by its bright yellow and black markings, it lives in colonies that can number several thousand individuals. Colonies are founded each spring by a single queen and reach their peak in late summer. As both predators and scavengers, common wasps play an important role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations and assisting in the breakdown of organic matter.

The Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) is one of Britain's most common and widespread hoverflies. Easily recognised by its orange-and-black striped abdomen, it mimics the appearance of a wasp but is completely harmless, lacking a sting. Adults are important pollinators of wildflowers, fruit, and garden plants, while their larvae are voracious predators of aphids, making them valuable allies to gardeners and farmers alike.