Types of Bees

Types of bees in UK number over 270  ranging from the well known honey bee, to bumblebees and solitary bees.

How to Identify Bee Types

This guide aims to help introduce you to identifying some of the bees that you may find in your garden or local greenspace.

Identifying and recording bee species enables scientists to see how these vital pollinators are faring and conserve them.

Differentiating between bee species can be challenging and requires skill and knowledge.
Some groups are more easy to identify, for example, bumblebees with their characteristic stocky, furry bodies.

Other insects may be confused with other taxonomic groups; for example many species of Nomad bees (Apidae) have a wasp-like appearance. More
confusing still, many non-bee species look like bees.