Nature at Home: Bees and Wasps

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This Nature at Home post continues our look at the miniature world of insect life during lockdown.

Bees are one of the most prominent insects flying around at the moment. Queen bumblebees are emerging and looking for nest sites, so spring is the perfect time to spot them. They are large enough to see from a window when you’re inside, though identifying them to species level may be more challenging, as there are over 20 different species in the UK. If you’re out on a walk, pay attention to the ground and the sounds around you. Bumblebees are very noisy in flight and the force of their wingbeats even moves the vegetation. If you see leaves moving very close to the ground, it could be a queen bumblebee looking for the best place to start her colony.

As well as bumblebees, you’ve probably heard of honeybees, which can easily be distinguished from wasps. Have you heard of solitary bees? There are nearly 250 species in the UK. Mining bees place their eggs in the ground, so try leaving bare patches of soil if you have a garden or look for the same if you’re out in a grassy area. Mason bees use holes in walls to raise their young and bee hotels are a popular garden feature. Leafcutter bees may be seen taking pieces of leaves, especially from roses. And cuckoo bees use the nests of other bees to raise their young. By observing flowers, you’ll get to know which ones are favoured by bees. If you’re patient and able to hang around long enough you might even get some good photos.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) (taken on DSLR camera with 50-500 mm telephoto lens) © Lee Ismail.

Willughby’s leafcutter bee (Megachile willughbiella) (taken on a smartphone) © Lee Ismail.

In more impressive numbers than the bees, there are over 7000 species of wasp in the UK. Even the most hated common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) provides pest control, and is a useful pollinator, as it searches for a sweet nectar drink among flowers. As long as you don’t have a sugary drink, you’ll be fine to observe wasps from a foot away. You may also see hornets (Vespa crabro) flying around or feeding on fallen fruit. Lots of people aren’t keen, as they are much larger than common wasps and may be seen grabbing honeybees in mid-air. However, as another insect predator, the hornet is useful in regulating insect numbers. They are no threat to healthy honeybee hives or to you, if you leave them alone. One of the most visually exciting wasps is the tiny ruby-tailed wasp (Chrysis sp.) with a bright blue upper half and a shining red abdomen, they are also known as jewel wasps. This wasp parasitises mason bees and hangs around the entrances of their homes, giving you a chance to catch a glimpse.