How Many!?
There are presently approximately
253 known species of Bee in the
British Isles. The majority of these are the Solitary Bees, there's a
small group of Bumble Bee species and an even smaller number of Cuckoo
Bees!
Further identification of Bumble Bees can be found at the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust
The Bumble Bees
The Bumble Bees are the
archetypal Bee. They are what immediatley
springs to mind when we think of Bees. Anywhere there are
flowers from Spring through to Autunm there'll be a Bumble buzzing.
The name is modern. Up until the late 1800s the Bumble Bees were
called Humble Bees.
There are just over two dozen species in Britain. They are all
social, forming colonies anywhere from a few tens to a few hundred
individuals.
Only female Bumble Bees can sting and can do so repeatedly, just like a
Wasp. But they are remarkably calm insects and rarely
sting. Bumble Bees and Honey Bees only sting when threatened or
frightened.
Bumble Bees are the busiest of
Bees. Incredibly hardy, they fly
in all but the roughest weather. Strong flight muscles allows them to
take on most winds and a good layer of hair enables them to fly in
temperatures that Honey Bees and Wasps wouldn't dare. This is why
you'll see Bumble Bees flying from dawn till dusk.
Bumbles do make honey but since they only form small colonies and do
not
stay as a group throughout the year they do not create large honey
reserves, just enough to rear their young. Just as well or we'd
need hives the size of a garage.
| Spring |
Queens,
mated in the previous Autumn, emerge from hibernation and begin
building nests. The nests are often in the leaf litter
under hedge row, vacated rodent burrows, vole holes are a favourite,
under stones or beneath garden sheds. Anywhere dry, sheltered & not
too large The Queen will lay and nurture the first eggs to hatching. The largest Bumble Bees are seen at this time of year as the Queens go out and feed and collect nectar & pollen.The emerging females will then take on the role of nest construction and caring for the brood(eggs & larvae). |
| Summer |
The
colony and nest will expand. At it's peak a colony may reach a
population of 20 to 200. In
late Summer a large increase in Bumble Bee numbers may be
noticed. These are the Drones (male Bees) flying around looking
for fertile females. |
| Autumn |
As
Summer turns to Autumn the colony dwindles. The Drones will mate
with the new Queens. In late Autumn the
mated Queens will leave the nest to find a suitable place to hibernate
over Winter. The remaining Worker Bees, Drones and old Queen die. |
| Winter |
The new Queens
hibernate. Leaf litter and compost heaps are common spots for
hibernating Bees. |
For more details on the lives and types of Bumble Bee in the British Isles look here
http://www.bumblebee.org/key.ht
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The Solitary Bees
By far the most numerous of Bee
species. Quiet and unassuming
they go about there lives with us hardly ever noticing them. The
species we mostly across are the Tawny Mining Bee and Mason
Bees. The Tawny Mining Bee is often seen in late Spring and
likewise the Mason Bees will be seen looking for holes in rocks
and
walls.
The lives of the solitary Bees vary enormously depending on species but
fall into two broad categories, the Mining Bees and the Cavity Bees.
The Mining Bees create holes in the ground or take up residence in old animal or insect burrows.
The Cavity Bees nest above ground in hollows already naturally present or cavities built by them.
Solitary Bees do not form colonies, there are no workerss who care for the young and no Queen who is the sole fertile female. With Solitary Bees each female is fertile and will lay eggs after mating. The eggs will be left hidden with a store of honey and pollen. The eggs become larvae and pupate using the stores left by they mother. On emerging they will take wing, mate find a new home and repeat the cycle. Like Honey Bees and Bumble Bees the same nest site may be used repeatedly. If many eggs are layed in one burrow or cavity the Bees may emerge over a very short time giving the impression of a Honey Bee nest.
Very few Solitary Bees sting and
it is very rare for the ones that can to actaully sting. Soiltary
Bees are more likely to run away, even if you disturb the nest.
Their general defense strategy is, run away.
http://www.insectpix.net/index.htm
The Cuckoo Bees
As bizarre as it sounds there are Cuckoo Bees. These Bees mimic Bumble Bees in scent, shape & usually colour. By imitating a species of Bumble Bee a particular Cuckoo Bee will gain entrance to the nest and lay her eggs there. The eggs will be raised as the Bumble Bees' own. Unlike Cuckoo birds the emerging young do not oust the Bumble Bee young, although they will have taken some of the resources devoted to the host Bumble Bees' young. The discovery of Cuckoo Bees is very recent and our understanding of exactly how they live and how they came about is being researched.
For more details on the lives and types of Cuckoo Bee in the British Isles look herehttp://www.bumblebee.org/cuckoo.htm