Types of Bee

Bees are flying insects belonging to the order Hymenoptera, which means ‘membrane wing’. This order also comprises of wasps, ants and sawflies. Currently there are more than 270 species of bee in the UK, which are divided into 3 groups of honey, bumble and solitary.

Bumble Bees

Bumble bees are social insects, with 24 species being present throughout the UK. The queens emerge during the spring to forage on flowers and search for suitable places to nest.

Although these bees are social, there colonies, which number up to 400, are significantly smaller than those of the honeybee.

They nests close to the ground, often in abandoned rodent burrows, cavities in hedge banks, compost heaps and grassy tussocks.

Bumble bees feed on nectar and pollen they extract from flowers, which provide them with protein and energy.

The queen is the head of the colony, with the other bees serving her and gathering food. During the autumn the entire colony of bees die off, with only the queen surviving, as she hibernates during the winter months.

She will then emerge the following spring, as she looks for a suitable nest to lay her eggs and start a new colony.

Honey Bees

There is just a single species of honey bee found in the UK. They are social bees, which live in large, complex colonies, each colony can be 10,000 strong in number. The colony consists of the queen, the workers and the drones, each with their own role.

There is usually one queen in each hive, her job is to lay the eggs that will produce the next generation of bees. The workers are female and their job is to collect pollen & nectar, clean, protect and maintain the hive. The drones primary role is the mate with the queen. They are expelled from the nest or killed by the workers after mating or just prior to winter, when they have served their purpose.

Honey bees survive on stocks of honey and pollen during the winter as they form tight balls to maintain warmth. Each spring a new generation will emerge.

Solitary Bees

The final group are solitary bees, of which there are around 250 species. As there name suggests this species do not live in hives or colonies, instead they live in the ground or look for holes in trees or old brickwork and walls to nest.

Solitary bees do not have a queen are generally not aggressive or territorial, they don’t swarm and rarely sting. They are fantastic pollinators and many people try and encourage them into their gardens by installing a bee house or hotel.

They emerge from their nests during spring time, with the males emerging first. Once the males have mated with the females they die shortly afterwards. Once mating is complete the females search for a suitable site to nest, where she will lay her eggs.

The eggs will hatch with the larvae feeding on pollen and nectar, eventually emerging the following spring, as the cycle begins again.

Why are bees important?

Although many forms of garden wildlife, such as birds, beetles, butterflies & moths, bats, wasps and hoverflies contribute towards pollination, bees are by far the most efficient and important of all pollinators. These remarkable insects pollinate plants as they fly from flower to flower, feeding on the nectar and transferring pollen to other plants, as they move around.

With bee numbers in decline, the planet could be in some trouble, as a vast amount of plants we require for food, rely on pollination by bees. Many trees and flowers that are essential for the support and survival of a range of wildlife are also threatened, as they also rely on bees for pollination.

Why are bees disappearing?

There is definitely cause for concern, as bee numbers are in decline. So what is causing this reduction in bee numbers? Well! there are several reasons why bees are having a hard time of things.

1. Loss of Habitat
It is important for bees that they have ample plants and flowers to forage and safe areas to build nests. However the habitat that supports bees is being lost due to a couple of factors.

a. Intensive farming methods: Modern farming methods has contributed to the reduction in numbers. There has been a decline wildflower meadows, hedgerows and various trees caused by farming, all of which support bees and are essential for a healthy population.

b. Demand for housing: As the human population continues to grow, then so does the demand for housing and new homes.  All are contributing factors to the loss of habitat favoured by bees.

2. Agricultural and horticultural management practices
The widespread use of pesticides and particularly insecticides is having an adverse affect on bee numbers. The main culprit is the insecticide group neonicotinoids, which are the most widely used group of insecticides in the world. They are used to control a range of pests in agriculture, horticulture, forestry & sports turf.

The major downside with neonicotinoids is that they have a devastating affect on bees. These insecticides affect the nervous system, which impairs the bees social behaviour and can ultimately lead to death. Thankfully many of the products containing these pesticides have been removed from the market.

3. Climate change: Weather patterns are becoming more and more erratic, which is causing flowers and plants bloom out of season. This is having a major impact on nesting behavior and causes the bees to be confused.

4. Disease caused by parasites
Honey bees are also faced with the threat of a parasitic mite known as the Varroa mite Varroa destructor. These parasites attach themselves to adult bees and bee larvae, sucking the fat bodies for survival. This weakens the bee, as it transmits numerous viruses, leaving the bee with genetic defects and deformities.

5. Invasion of non-natives & other species

Half a century ago there we as many as 50 native species of bee, fast forward to present times and the number has been halved. Although 50% of the native species have become extinct, the number of non-native species has increased. As the non-natives increase it’s thought it is having a detrimental effect on our own native species.

The biggest threat is from the Asian hornet, which are capable of destroying and eating up to 50 bees a day.

How to encourage bees into your garden

With bees and other key pollinators in decline, there are a few things you can do to encourage them by making your garden a haven for them.

Grow wildflowers: A great way to encourage bees is by planting wildflowers in your garden. Wildflowers provide a valuable source of pollen and nectar to attract pollinators. All that’s required is a small area that receives ample sunlight and is preferably low in soil nutrition. They are relatively cheap to purchase (for a small area), maintenance is simple, they look stunning when in bloom and bees love them.

Install a bee hotel: As habit loss is reason for the decline in numbers, suitable nesting sites are becoming harder to find. Solitary bees look for cracks in old walls & brickwork, underground tunnels and dead wood to build their nests. Unfortunately, for the reasons we have already mentioned, suitable nesting areas are becoming scarce.

This is where we can give them a hand by installing a bee hotel or insect house. You could also build your own bee hotel if you prefer, as there’s multiple resources on the net on how to do this. The ideal place to install them is on a wall or fence (about 1 meter from the ground) that receives ample sunlight, but is sheltered from the wind.

Plant bee friendly flowers: When planting flowers, shrubs and trees in the garden for the purpose of attracting pollinators there are a couple of points to consider.

a. Choose flowers that are rich in pollen and nectar.

b. Choose single, open flowers, where the center of the flower is visible. This helps them access the nectar and pollen. Try and avoid double flowers, where the central part of the flower is difficult ton access. Suitable flowers & plants include foxglove, lavender, honeysuckle & buddleia. For more suggestions on suitable flowers & plants you can check out this page on the Gardeners World website.

Avoid using pesticides: Many gardeners use pesticides at various times, to control various garden pests and diseases. The problem is many of the chemicals these products contain are harmful to bees. The most damaging are Neonicotinoids, which are insecticides used for the control of aphids and root feeding grubs. Although, it may be necessary to use chemicals, there use should be kept to a minimum.

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