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Imagine running the equivalent of six back-to-back marathons to reach your favourite food, guided only by smelling it on the breeze. 🏃‍♂️

That is the remarkable superpower of the Red Bartsia Bee (Melitta tricincta), a rare, specialist solitary bee that relies entirely on the wild flowers of the same name.

We revisit this story from January this year, where Dr Will Hawkes, Buglife Kernow Wyls Conservation Assistant, explains how after a 20-year absence, the discovery of a tiny population in a single field has led to a targeted effort to improve habitat connectivity with the help of National Trust-managed Godrevy Farm. Work that wouldn’t be possible without dedicated projects such as Buglife's North Cornwall B-Lines.

Read the blog here 👉 buglife.org.uk/blog/surveying-for-the-red-bartsia-bee/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Red Bartsia Bee (Melitta tricincta) © Dr Will Hawkes / @hillwalkswithwillhawkes
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #KernowWyls #Cornwall

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

As #SolitaryBeeWeek continues, we’re celebrating some of the UK's most distinctive (and often rare) solitary bees.

🐝 Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis)(front cover): The males have huge antennae. They love soft clay cliffs but have suffered much decline so this is a species Buglife is helping to protect.

🐝 Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) has bright green eyes. They live only in the south of Britain and are uncommon.

🐝 Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio): one of our tiniest bees (5 to 6 mm) with a bright metallic bronzy green shimmer.

🐝 Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) is a distinctive genus with bright red abdomens. It’s a nest parasite of mining bees and is common in East and South of the UK.

🐝 Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes): Females sport large yellow "pantaloons" on their legs to dig burrows and carry pollen. Rare and found in the South.

🐝 Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes): The males of this bumblebee-sized bee have a “yellow moustache” and “hairy feet”. Common in southern and central England and Wales.

🐝 The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata): A "cuckoo" bee that lays eggs in solitary bees' nests. Extremely rare and limited to Southern England.

If you want to read more about some of these special bees, head to our Solitary Bee page: buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/love/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 In order: Longhorn bee (Eucera longicornis) © John Walters; Green-eyed Flower Bee (Anthophora bimaculata) © Ian Boyd, Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0; Green Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum morio) © Jürgen Mangelsdorf, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Pantaloon Bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) © Hans Hillewaert, Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0; Box-headed Blood Bee (Sphecodes monilicornis) © Steven Falk;
Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) © 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson; The Six-banded Nomad Bee (Nomada sexfasciata) © Steven Falk
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#DistinctiveBees #SpeciesRecovery #SolitaryBees

Where do solitary bees nest? And how can we be the best 'bee landlords' for them? 🏡 Having a variety of nest sites will help, since many native UK bees are ground-nesters, while others choose bricks, wood, plant stems, and even snug little cavities like empty snail shells!

While bee hotels are a popular choice for gardeners, only mostly mason and leafcutter bees will use them successfully – if managed correctly. Sadly, shop-bought bee hotels are often poorly designed, and can even cause more harm than good due to dampness, mould and splinters. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to create the ideal spaces to support many nesting bee species:

🪵 Drill 6" holes into untreated wood blocks
🎍 Use clean, smooth bamboo, protected from rain
☀️ Pick a sunny south or southeast location for warmth
🌱 Leave a patch of bare soil for mining and mason bees
🔨 Maintain or replace in early spring

👉 Read the full guide on how to be the best bee landlord and hotel manager: buglife.org.uk/blog/how-to-be-the-best-bee-hotel-manager/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Patchwork Leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) in garden bee hotel © Suzanne Burgess, Gold-fringed Mason Bee nesting in a discarded ammunition case © Liam Olds, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis © Greg Hitchcock, Bamboo bee hotel © Jo Loman, DIY insect hotel © Vanessa Amaral-Rogers
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeHotels

Where do solitary bees nest? And how can we be the best 'bee landlords' for them? 🏡 Having a variety of nest sites will help, since many native UK bees are ground-nesters, while others choose bricks, wood, plant stems, and even snug little cavities like empty snail shells!

While bee hotels are a popular choice for gardeners, only mostly mason and leafcutter bees will use them successfully – if managed correctly. Sadly, shop-bought bee hotels are often poorly designed, and can even cause more harm than good due to dampness, mould and splinters. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to create the ideal spaces to support many nesting bee species:

🪵 Drill 6" holes into untreated wood blocks
🎍 Use clean, smooth bamboo, protected from rain
☀️ Pick a sunny south or southeast location for warmth
🌱 Leave a patch of bare soil for mining and mason bees
🔨 Maintain or replace in early spring

👉 Read the full guide on how to be the best bee landlord and hotel manager: buglife.org.uk/blog/how-to-be-the-best-bee-hotel-manager/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Patchwork Leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) in garden bee hotel © Suzanne Burgess, Gold-fringed Mason Bee nesting in a discarded ammunition case © Liam Olds, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis © Greg Hitchcock, Bamboo bee hotel © Jo Loman, DIY insect hotel © Vanessa Amaral-Rogers
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeHotels

Where do solitary bees nest? And how can we be the best 'bee landlords' for them? 🏡 Having a variety of nest sites will help, since many native UK bees are ground-nesters, while others choose bricks, wood, plant stems, and even snug little cavities like empty snail shells!

While bee hotels are a popular choice for gardeners, only mostly mason and leafcutter bees will use them successfully – if managed correctly. Sadly, shop-bought bee hotels are often poorly designed, and can even cause more harm than good due to dampness, mould and splinters. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to create the ideal spaces to support many nesting bee species:

🪵 Drill 6" holes into untreated wood blocks
🎍 Use clean, smooth bamboo, protected from rain
☀️ Pick a sunny south or southeast location for warmth
🌱 Leave a patch of bare soil for mining and mason bees
🔨 Maintain or replace in early spring

👉 Read the full guide on how to be the best bee landlord and hotel manager: buglife.org.uk/blog/how-to-be-the-best-bee-hotel-manager/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Patchwork Leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) in garden bee hotel © Suzanne Burgess, Gold-fringed Mason Bee nesting in a discarded ammunition case © Liam Olds, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis © Greg Hitchcock, Bamboo bee hotel © Jo Loman, DIY insect hotel © Vanessa Amaral-Rogers
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeHotels

Where do solitary bees nest? And how can we be the best 'bee landlords' for them? 🏡 Having a variety of nest sites will help, since many native UK bees are ground-nesters, while others choose bricks, wood, plant stems, and even snug little cavities like empty snail shells!

While bee hotels are a popular choice for gardeners, only mostly mason and leafcutter bees will use them successfully – if managed correctly. Sadly, shop-bought bee hotels are often poorly designed, and can even cause more harm than good due to dampness, mould and splinters. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to create the ideal spaces to support many nesting bee species:

🪵 Drill 6" holes into untreated wood blocks
🎍 Use clean, smooth bamboo, protected from rain
☀️ Pick a sunny south or southeast location for warmth
🌱 Leave a patch of bare soil for mining and mason bees
🔨 Maintain or replace in early spring

👉 Read the full guide on how to be the best bee landlord and hotel manager: buglife.org.uk/blog/how-to-be-the-best-bee-hotel-manager/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Patchwork Leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) in garden bee hotel © Suzanne Burgess, Gold-fringed Mason Bee nesting in a discarded ammunition case © Liam Olds, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis © Greg Hitchcock, Bamboo bee hotel © Jo Loman, DIY insect hotel © Vanessa Amaral-Rogers
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeHotels

Where do solitary bees nest? And how can we be the best 'bee landlords' for them? 🏡 Having a variety of nest sites will help, since many native UK bees are ground-nesters, while others choose bricks, wood, plant stems, and even snug little cavities like empty snail shells!

While bee hotels are a popular choice for gardeners, only mostly mason and leafcutter bees will use them successfully – if managed correctly. Sadly, shop-bought bee hotels are often poorly designed, and can even cause more harm than good due to dampness, mould and splinters. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to create the ideal spaces to support many nesting bee species:

🪵 Drill 6" holes into untreated wood blocks
🎍 Use clean, smooth bamboo, protected from rain
☀️ Pick a sunny south or southeast location for warmth
🌱 Leave a patch of bare soil for mining and mason bees
🔨 Maintain or replace in early spring

👉 Read the full guide on how to be the best bee landlord and hotel manager: buglife.org.uk/blog/how-to-be-the-best-bee-hotel-manager/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Patchwork Leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) in garden bee hotel © Suzanne Burgess, Gold-fringed Mason Bee nesting in a discarded ammunition case © Liam Olds, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis © Greg Hitchcock, Bamboo bee hotel © Jo Loman, DIY insect hotel © Vanessa Amaral-Rogers
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeHotels

Where do solitary bees nest? And how can we be the best 'bee landlords' for them? 🏡 Having a variety of nest sites will help, since many native UK bees are ground-nesters, while others choose bricks, wood, plant stems, and even snug little cavities like empty snail shells!

While bee hotels are a popular choice for gardeners, only mostly mason and leafcutter bees will use them successfully – if managed correctly. Sadly, shop-bought bee hotels are often poorly designed, and can even cause more harm than good due to dampness, mould and splinters. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to create the ideal spaces to support many nesting bee species:

🪵 Drill 6" holes into untreated wood blocks
🎍 Use clean, smooth bamboo, protected from rain
☀️ Pick a sunny south or southeast location for warmth
🌱 Leave a patch of bare soil for mining and mason bees
🔨 Maintain or replace in early spring

👉 Read the full guide on how to be the best bee landlord and hotel manager: buglife.org.uk/blog/how-to-be-the-best-bee-hotel-manager/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Patchwork Leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) in garden bee hotel © Suzanne Burgess, Gold-fringed Mason Bee nesting in a discarded ammunition case © Liam Olds, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis © Greg Hitchcock, Bamboo bee hotel © Jo Loman, DIY insect hotel © Vanessa Amaral-Rogers
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeHotels

Where do solitary bees nest? And how can we be the best 'bee landlords' for them? 🏡 Having a variety of nest sites will help, since many native UK bees are ground-nesters, while others choose bricks, wood, plant stems, and even snug little cavities like empty snail shells!

While bee hotels are a popular choice for gardeners, only mostly mason and leafcutter bees will use them successfully – if managed correctly. Sadly, shop-bought bee hotels are often poorly designed, and can even cause more harm than good due to dampness, mould and splinters. Fortunately, there are simple, inexpensive ways to create the ideal spaces to support many nesting bee species:

🪵 Drill 6" holes into untreated wood blocks
🎍 Use clean, smooth bamboo, protected from rain
☀️ Pick a sunny south or southeast location for warmth
🌱 Leave a patch of bare soil for mining and mason bees
🔨 Maintain or replace in early spring

👉 Read the full guide on how to be the best bee landlord and hotel manager: buglife.org.uk/blog/how-to-be-the-best-bee-hotel-manager/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Patchwork Leafcutter (Megachile centuncularis) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) in garden bee hotel © Suzanne Burgess, Gold-fringed Mason Bee nesting in a discarded ammunition case © Liam Olds, Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) © Buglife 'Shutterbug' Samuel Merriman-Johnson, Yellow-faced Bee Hylaeus communis © Greg Hitchcock, Bamboo bee hotel © Jo Loman, DIY insect hotel © Vanessa Amaral-Rogers
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeHotels

Your garden is a lifeline for solitary bees🐝 The UK has an estimated 23 million gardens, and whether yours is a sprawling lawn or a tiny patio, a few simple tweaks can provide the food and shelter they desperately need.

🪻 Grow bee favourites - plant nectar-rich flowers (like lavender, salvias, and sedums) in pots or beds. Or simply let a patch of lawn grow wild, allowing wildflowers like clover, dandelions and daisies do the work for you.

🛖 Warm, dry and sheltered areas are ideal nest sites – bee hotels, dry deadwood, and sandy soil heaps make inviting homes for many bee species.

⚠️ Avoid pesticides in the garden – pest sprays, tablets and powders also negatively impact solitary bees.

For information on plants bees love and other bee-friendly gardening tips, read our Gardening for Solitary Bees blog ➡️ buglife.org.uk/blog/gardening-for-solitary-bees/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Male Hairy Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus hyalinatus) on an oxeye daisy © Dr. Will Hawkes / @hillwalkswithwillhawkes, Grey-patched Mining Bee on a dandelion (Andrena nitida) © Nick Packham, Jersey Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) on lavender © Dr. Will Hawkes, Solitary bee on white clover © Lucia Chmurova / @lucias_wild_things, Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) in the undergrowth © Shutterbug, Samuel Merriman-Johnson / @wildlife_on_your_doorstep
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeFriendlyGardening

Your garden is a lifeline for solitary bees🐝 The UK has an estimated 23 million gardens, and whether yours is a sprawling lawn or a tiny patio, a few simple tweaks can provide the food and shelter they desperately need.

🪻 Grow bee favourites - plant nectar-rich flowers (like lavender, salvias, and sedums) in pots or beds. Or simply let a patch of lawn grow wild, allowing wildflowers like clover, dandelions and daisies do the work for you.

🛖 Warm, dry and sheltered areas are ideal nest sites – bee hotels, dry deadwood, and sandy soil heaps make inviting homes for many bee species.

⚠️ Avoid pesticides in the garden – pest sprays, tablets and powders also negatively impact solitary bees.

For information on plants bees love and other bee-friendly gardening tips, read our Gardening for Solitary Bees blog ➡️ buglife.org.uk/blog/gardening-for-solitary-bees/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Male Hairy Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus hyalinatus) on an oxeye daisy © Dr. Will Hawkes / @hillwalkswithwillhawkes, Grey-patched Mining Bee on a dandelion (Andrena nitida) © Nick Packham, Jersey Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) on lavender © Dr. Will Hawkes, Solitary bee on white clover © Lucia Chmurova / @lucias_wild_things, Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) in the undergrowth © Shutterbug, Samuel Merriman-Johnson / @wildlife_on_your_doorstep
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeFriendlyGardening

Your garden is a lifeline for solitary bees🐝 The UK has an estimated 23 million gardens, and whether yours is a sprawling lawn or a tiny patio, a few simple tweaks can provide the food and shelter they desperately need.

🪻 Grow bee favourites - plant nectar-rich flowers (like lavender, salvias, and sedums) in pots or beds. Or simply let a patch of lawn grow wild, allowing wildflowers like clover, dandelions and daisies do the work for you.

🛖 Warm, dry and sheltered areas are ideal nest sites – bee hotels, dry deadwood, and sandy soil heaps make inviting homes for many bee species.

⚠️ Avoid pesticides in the garden – pest sprays, tablets and powders also negatively impact solitary bees.

For information on plants bees love and other bee-friendly gardening tips, read our Gardening for Solitary Bees blog ➡️ buglife.org.uk/blog/gardening-for-solitary-bees/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Male Hairy Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus hyalinatus) on an oxeye daisy © Dr. Will Hawkes / @hillwalkswithwillhawkes, Grey-patched Mining Bee on a dandelion (Andrena nitida) © Nick Packham, Jersey Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) on lavender © Dr. Will Hawkes, Solitary bee on white clover © Lucia Chmurova / @lucias_wild_things, Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) in the undergrowth © Shutterbug, Samuel Merriman-Johnson / @wildlife_on_your_doorstep
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeFriendlyGardening

Your garden is a lifeline for solitary bees🐝 The UK has an estimated 23 million gardens, and whether yours is a sprawling lawn or a tiny patio, a few simple tweaks can provide the food and shelter they desperately need.

🪻 Grow bee favourites - plant nectar-rich flowers (like lavender, salvias, and sedums) in pots or beds. Or simply let a patch of lawn grow wild, allowing wildflowers like clover, dandelions and daisies do the work for you.

🛖 Warm, dry and sheltered areas are ideal nest sites – bee hotels, dry deadwood, and sandy soil heaps make inviting homes for many bee species.

⚠️ Avoid pesticides in the garden – pest sprays, tablets and powders also negatively impact solitary bees.

For information on plants bees love and other bee-friendly gardening tips, read our Gardening for Solitary Bees blog ➡️ buglife.org.uk/blog/gardening-for-solitary-bees/ (🔗 link in bio)
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📷 Male Hairy Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus hyalinatus) on an oxeye daisy © Dr. Will Hawkes / @hillwalkswithwillhawkes, Grey-patched Mining Bee on a dandelion (Andrena nitida) © Nick Packham, Jersey Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) on lavender © Dr. Will Hawkes, Solitary bee on white clover © Lucia Chmurova / @lucias_wild_things, Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) in the undergrowth © Shutterbug, Samuel Merriman-Johnson / @wildlife_on_your_doorstep
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeFriendlyGardening

Your garden is a lifeline for solitary bees🐝 The UK has an estimated 23 million gardens, and whether yours is a sprawling lawn or a tiny patio, a few simple tweaks can provide the food and shelter they desperately need.

🪻 Grow bee favourites - plant nectar-rich flowers (like lavender, salvias, and sedums) in pots or beds. Or simply let a patch of lawn grow wild, allowing wildflowers like clover, dandelions and daisies do the work for you.

🛖 Warm, dry and sheltered areas are ideal nest sites – bee hotels, dry deadwood, and sandy soil heaps make inviting homes for many bee species.

⚠️ Avoid pesticides in the garden – pest sprays, tablets and powders also negatively impact solitary bees.

For information on plants bees love and other bee-friendly gardening tips, read our Gardening for Solitary Bees blog ➡️ buglife.org.uk/blog/gardening-for-solitary-bees/ (🔗 link in bio)
.
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📷 Male Hairy Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus hyalinatus) on an oxeye daisy © Dr. Will Hawkes / @hillwalkswithwillhawkes, Grey-patched Mining Bee on a dandelion (Andrena nitida) © Nick Packham, Jersey Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) on lavender © Dr. Will Hawkes, Solitary bee on white clover © Lucia Chmurova / @lucias_wild_things, Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) in the undergrowth © Shutterbug, Samuel Merriman-Johnson / @wildlife_on_your_doorstep
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #GardeningForBugs #BeeFriendlyGardening

🚜 What do your food choices have to do with wildlife? Turns out, a lot! 🌽

As part of Nature Friendly Farming Week and Solitary Bee Week, we are looking at how supporting British Farmers goes hand-in-hand with protecting nature. Here’s how:

🐝 Wild pollinators, like solitary bees, are crucial for veggies to grow - think tomatoes and beans!

🐛 More hedgerows and wildflowers mean natural pest control, so fewer chemicals are needed.

🌱 Healthy habitats boost climate resilience, keeping soil nutrient rich.

How you can help our nature-friendly farmers:

-Shop local and organically: choose farmers who give wildlife space to thrive.
-Eat consciously: if you eat meat, choose higher-welfare, locally produced options.
-Spread the word: share your local food finds online

💚 Together with @buglife_ict let’s stand up for the small things that run the planet.

Read more via our blog 👉 buglife.org.uk/blog/how-choosing-nature-friendly-food-benefits-consumers-farmers-and-wildlife (🔗link in bio)
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📷 Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) on a strawberry flower © Line Sabroe (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), Organic Vegetables © eltpics (Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0), Ragged Robin Meadow © Lucia Chmurova, Common Furrow Bee (Lassioglossum calceatum) © Liam Olds
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#NatureFriendlyFarming #SolitaryBeeWeek #SustainableFarming #NFFW2026 @nffnuk

🚜 What do your food choices have to do with wildlife? Turns out, a lot! 🌽

As part of Nature Friendly Farming Week and Solitary Bee Week, we are looking at how supporting British Farmers goes hand-in-hand with protecting nature. Here’s how:

🐝 Wild pollinators, like solitary bees, are crucial for veggies to grow - think tomatoes and beans!

🐛 More hedgerows and wildflowers mean natural pest control, so fewer chemicals are needed.

🌱 Healthy habitats boost climate resilience, keeping soil nutrient rich.

How you can help our nature-friendly farmers:

-Shop local and organically: choose farmers who give wildlife space to thrive.
-Eat consciously: if you eat meat, choose higher-welfare, locally produced options.
-Spread the word: share your local food finds online

💚 Together with @buglife_ict let’s stand up for the small things that run the planet.

Read more via our blog 👉 buglife.org.uk/blog/how-choosing-nature-friendly-food-benefits-consumers-farmers-and-wildlife (🔗link in bio)
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📷 Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) on a strawberry flower © Line Sabroe (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), Organic Vegetables © eltpics (Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0), Ragged Robin Meadow © Lucia Chmurova, Common Furrow Bee (Lassioglossum calceatum) © Liam Olds
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#NatureFriendlyFarming #SolitaryBeeWeek #SustainableFarming #NFFW2026 @nffnuk

🚜 What do your food choices have to do with wildlife? Turns out, a lot! 🌽

As part of Nature Friendly Farming Week and Solitary Bee Week, we are looking at how supporting British Farmers goes hand-in-hand with protecting nature. Here’s how:

🐝 Wild pollinators, like solitary bees, are crucial for veggies to grow - think tomatoes and beans!

🐛 More hedgerows and wildflowers mean natural pest control, so fewer chemicals are needed.

🌱 Healthy habitats boost climate resilience, keeping soil nutrient rich.

How you can help our nature-friendly farmers:

-Shop local and organically: choose farmers who give wildlife space to thrive.
-Eat consciously: if you eat meat, choose higher-welfare, locally produced options.
-Spread the word: share your local food finds online

💚 Together with @buglife_ict let’s stand up for the small things that run the planet.

Read more via our blog 👉 buglife.org.uk/blog/how-choosing-nature-friendly-food-benefits-consumers-farmers-and-wildlife (🔗link in bio)
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📷 Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) on a strawberry flower © Line Sabroe (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), Organic Vegetables © eltpics (Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0), Ragged Robin Meadow © Lucia Chmurova, Common Furrow Bee (Lassioglossum calceatum) © Liam Olds
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#NatureFriendlyFarming #SolitaryBeeWeek #SustainableFarming #NFFW2026 @nffnuk

🚜 What do your food choices have to do with wildlife? Turns out, a lot! 🌽

As part of Nature Friendly Farming Week and Solitary Bee Week, we are looking at how supporting British Farmers goes hand-in-hand with protecting nature. Here’s how:

🐝 Wild pollinators, like solitary bees, are crucial for veggies to grow - think tomatoes and beans!

🐛 More hedgerows and wildflowers mean natural pest control, so fewer chemicals are needed.

🌱 Healthy habitats boost climate resilience, keeping soil nutrient rich.

How you can help our nature-friendly farmers:

-Shop local and organically: choose farmers who give wildlife space to thrive.
-Eat consciously: if you eat meat, choose higher-welfare, locally produced options.
-Spread the word: share your local food finds online

💚 Together with @buglife_ict let’s stand up for the small things that run the planet.

Read more via our blog 👉 buglife.org.uk/blog/how-choosing-nature-friendly-food-benefits-consumers-farmers-and-wildlife (🔗link in bio)
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📷 Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) on a strawberry flower © Line Sabroe (Flickr, CC BY 2.0), Organic Vegetables © eltpics (Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0), Ragged Robin Meadow © Lucia Chmurova, Common Furrow Bee (Lassioglossum calceatum) © Liam Olds
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#NatureFriendlyFarming #SolitaryBeeWeek #SustainableFarming #NFFW2026 @nffnuk

Spot the bees! 🔍 Solitary bees you might see this week…

There are around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK alone. That’s perhaps a few too many photos to fit in this family album, but here are some common and distinctive bees you might spot buzzing about in May.

🧱 Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) – a regular resident of bee hotels. Females have horns on their face to collect mud to make their nest cells.

🍃 Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) - will snip neat semi circles off leaves to line their nest cells. They are common in England and Wales, often found in gardens, parks and woodland.

🧶 Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) - distinctive bee. Females collect the hairs from lamb's ear plants, while males defend lavender patch territories.

⛏️ Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) - small bee that emerges for just 3 to 6 weeks. Found in gardens where they like to nest in light, dry soils.

🍋 Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) - one of our tiniest bees, between 5 and 7 mm. The females carry pollen in their crop rather than on their bodies, while males have bright yellow faces and smell strongly of lemons!

👣 Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) - looks like a wasp. These are nest parasites of some species of mining bees.

Have you seen any of these solitary bees? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments 👇
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📷 In order: Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Suzanne Burgess, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) © Bernhard Plank - SiLencer, Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) © Suzanne Burgess, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Claire Pumfrey, Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) © Claire Pumfrey, Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) © Tim Worfolk (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) © Nick Packham
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #InsectThursday

Spot the bees! 🔍 Solitary bees you might see this week…

There are around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK alone. That’s perhaps a few too many photos to fit in this family album, but here are some common and distinctive bees you might spot buzzing about in May.

🧱 Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) – a regular resident of bee hotels. Females have horns on their face to collect mud to make their nest cells.

🍃 Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) - will snip neat semi circles off leaves to line their nest cells. They are common in England and Wales, often found in gardens, parks and woodland.

🧶 Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) - distinctive bee. Females collect the hairs from lamb's ear plants, while males defend lavender patch territories.

⛏️ Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) - small bee that emerges for just 3 to 6 weeks. Found in gardens where they like to nest in light, dry soils.

🍋 Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) - one of our tiniest bees, between 5 and 7 mm. The females carry pollen in their crop rather than on their bodies, while males have bright yellow faces and smell strongly of lemons!

👣 Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) - looks like a wasp. These are nest parasites of some species of mining bees.

Have you seen any of these solitary bees? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments 👇
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📷 In order: Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Suzanne Burgess, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) © Bernhard Plank - SiLencer, Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) © Suzanne Burgess, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Claire Pumfrey, Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) © Claire Pumfrey, Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) © Tim Worfolk (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) © Nick Packham
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #InsectThursday

Spot the bees! 🔍 Solitary bees you might see this week…

There are around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK alone. That’s perhaps a few too many photos to fit in this family album, but here are some common and distinctive bees you might spot buzzing about in May.

🧱 Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) – a regular resident of bee hotels. Females have horns on their face to collect mud to make their nest cells.

🍃 Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) - will snip neat semi circles off leaves to line their nest cells. They are common in England and Wales, often found in gardens, parks and woodland.

🧶 Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) - distinctive bee. Females collect the hairs from lamb's ear plants, while males defend lavender patch territories.

⛏️ Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) - small bee that emerges for just 3 to 6 weeks. Found in gardens where they like to nest in light, dry soils.

🍋 Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) - one of our tiniest bees, between 5 and 7 mm. The females carry pollen in their crop rather than on their bodies, while males have bright yellow faces and smell strongly of lemons!

👣 Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) - looks like a wasp. These are nest parasites of some species of mining bees.

Have you seen any of these solitary bees? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments 👇
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📷 In order: Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Suzanne Burgess, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) © Bernhard Plank - SiLencer, Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) © Suzanne Burgess, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Claire Pumfrey, Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) © Claire Pumfrey, Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) © Tim Worfolk (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) © Nick Packham
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #InsectThursday

Spot the bees! 🔍 Solitary bees you might see this week…

There are around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK alone. That’s perhaps a few too many photos to fit in this family album, but here are some common and distinctive bees you might spot buzzing about in May.

🧱 Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) – a regular resident of bee hotels. Females have horns on their face to collect mud to make their nest cells.

🍃 Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) - will snip neat semi circles off leaves to line their nest cells. They are common in England and Wales, often found in gardens, parks and woodland.

🧶 Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) - distinctive bee. Females collect the hairs from lamb's ear plants, while males defend lavender patch territories.

⛏️ Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) - small bee that emerges for just 3 to 6 weeks. Found in gardens where they like to nest in light, dry soils.

🍋 Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) - one of our tiniest bees, between 5 and 7 mm. The females carry pollen in their crop rather than on their bodies, while males have bright yellow faces and smell strongly of lemons!

👣 Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) - looks like a wasp. These are nest parasites of some species of mining bees.

Have you seen any of these solitary bees? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments 👇
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📷 In order: Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Suzanne Burgess, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) © Bernhard Plank - SiLencer, Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) © Suzanne Burgess, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Claire Pumfrey, Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) © Claire Pumfrey, Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) © Tim Worfolk (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) © Nick Packham
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #InsectThursday

Spot the bees! 🔍 Solitary bees you might see this week…

There are around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK alone. That’s perhaps a few too many photos to fit in this family album, but here are some common and distinctive bees you might spot buzzing about in May.

🧱 Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) – a regular resident of bee hotels. Females have horns on their face to collect mud to make their nest cells.

🍃 Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) - will snip neat semi circles off leaves to line their nest cells. They are common in England and Wales, often found in gardens, parks and woodland.

🧶 Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) - distinctive bee. Females collect the hairs from lamb's ear plants, while males defend lavender patch territories.

⛏️ Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) - small bee that emerges for just 3 to 6 weeks. Found in gardens where they like to nest in light, dry soils.

🍋 Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) - one of our tiniest bees, between 5 and 7 mm. The females carry pollen in their crop rather than on their bodies, while males have bright yellow faces and smell strongly of lemons!

👣 Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) - looks like a wasp. These are nest parasites of some species of mining bees.

Have you seen any of these solitary bees? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments 👇
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📷 In order: Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Suzanne Burgess, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) © Bernhard Plank - SiLencer, Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) © Suzanne Burgess, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Claire Pumfrey, Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) © Claire Pumfrey, Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) © Tim Worfolk (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) © Nick Packham
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #InsectThursday

Spot the bees! 🔍 Solitary bees you might see this week…

There are around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK alone. That’s perhaps a few too many photos to fit in this family album, but here are some common and distinctive bees you might spot buzzing about in May.

🧱 Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) – a regular resident of bee hotels. Females have horns on their face to collect mud to make their nest cells.

🍃 Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) - will snip neat semi circles off leaves to line their nest cells. They are common in England and Wales, often found in gardens, parks and woodland.

🧶 Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) - distinctive bee. Females collect the hairs from lamb's ear plants, while males defend lavender patch territories.

⛏️ Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) - small bee that emerges for just 3 to 6 weeks. Found in gardens where they like to nest in light, dry soils.

🍋 Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) - one of our tiniest bees, between 5 and 7 mm. The females carry pollen in their crop rather than on their bodies, while males have bright yellow faces and smell strongly of lemons!

👣 Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) - looks like a wasp. These are nest parasites of some species of mining bees.

Have you seen any of these solitary bees? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments 👇
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📷 In order: Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Suzanne Burgess, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) © Bernhard Plank - SiLencer, Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) © Suzanne Burgess, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Claire Pumfrey, Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) © Claire Pumfrey, Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) © Tim Worfolk (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) © Nick Packham
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #InsectThursday

Spot the bees! 🔍 Solitary bees you might see this week…

There are around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK alone. That’s perhaps a few too many photos to fit in this family album, but here are some common and distinctive bees you might spot buzzing about in May.

🧱 Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) – a regular resident of bee hotels. Females have horns on their face to collect mud to make their nest cells.

🍃 Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) - will snip neat semi circles off leaves to line their nest cells. They are common in England and Wales, often found in gardens, parks and woodland.

🧶 Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) - distinctive bee. Females collect the hairs from lamb's ear plants, while males defend lavender patch territories.

⛏️ Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) - small bee that emerges for just 3 to 6 weeks. Found in gardens where they like to nest in light, dry soils.

🍋 Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) - one of our tiniest bees, between 5 and 7 mm. The females carry pollen in their crop rather than on their bodies, while males have bright yellow faces and smell strongly of lemons!

👣 Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) - looks like a wasp. These are nest parasites of some species of mining bees.

Have you seen any of these solitary bees? Do you have a favourite? Let us know in the comments 👇
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📷 In order: Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Suzanne Burgess, Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile cetuncularis) © Bernhard Plank - SiLencer, Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) © Suzanne Burgess, Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Claire Pumfrey, Orange-tailed Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) © Claire Pumfrey, Common Yellow-faced Bee (Hylaeus communis) © Tim Worfolk (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) © Nick Packham
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #InsectThursday

🐝 Happy World Bee Day and Solitary Bee Week! 🐝 Today kicks off our celebration of these tiny but mighty heroes. 💛

Most of us know of honeybees and bumbles, but did you know that 90% of bee species are solitary? These determined solo fliers work tirelessly, pollinating our crops and flowers. Without them, our plates (and our gardens) would look pretty empty.

Over the next week, we’ll share:

🌱 Bee-friendly gardening tips and resources
🔍 Bee facts, photos and how to spot different species in your area
🏆 Ways to #EarnYourStripes by getting involved

If you simply can’t wait, head to our website for more information on solitary bees, how you can help protect them
👉 buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/ (🔗 link in bio)
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🎥 Thank you to Buglife’s ‘Shutterbug’ Patrick Chadwick, Alice Parfitt, Melissa Shaw, Kate O’Leary, Claire Pumfrey, Laura Krusin and Amy Crawford for providing the content used to make this video.
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#WorldBeeDay #SolitaryBeeWeek #SaveTheBees

Today sees the start of Nature Friendly Farming Week, an annual week-long campaign run by the @nffnuk
👇
buglife.org.uk/blog/how-choosing-nature-friendly-food-benefits-consumers-farmers-and-wildlife/ (🔗link in bio)

🐝This year’s theme is ‘Solutions for Climate and Communities’, focussing on the power of resilience. Demonstrating that working with nature isn't just an environmental choice - it’s a fundamental solution that empowers farmers and secures our food future, even in uncertain times.

📝Join Buglife B-Lines Officer, Rachel, as she explores the importance of healthy soils and pollinators to farming, in our latest blog "How choosing nature-friendly food benefits consumers, farmers and wildlife".
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buglife.org.uk/blog/how-choosing-nature-friendly-food-benefits-consumers-farmers-and-wildlife/
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📷 Bumblebee pollinating tomato crop © ajcespedes (via canva.com)
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#NFFWeek2026 #BLines #SolitaryBeeWeek #NFFN #Pollinators #Farming #NatureFriendlyFarming #FieldToFork #LoveBugs

Restoring orchards for people and pollinators 🌸🐝
In this project with Buglife Scotland, communities are coming together to restore traditional orchards and create better habitats for bees, butterflies and other vital pollinators.
From working with local schools and creating educational resources, to community festivals and social prescribing activities that connect people with nature, this project shows how conservation can strengthen both biodiversity and wellbeing. 🌿
Healthy orchards support wildlife, provide spaces for learning, and help communities reconnect with the natural world around them.
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#CarseOfGowrie #BuglifeScotland #Orchards #BLines #Invertebrates #InvertebrateOfInstagram #HeritageFund @heritagefunduk @naturescot @milkywire @animalfriendsinsurance #Trailer #Dundee #DundeeNatureGuild

Buglife backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to give a brighter future for Dartmoor’s threatened invertebrates.
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates (🔗link in bio)

Moor Invertebrates will help to give a brighter future to the following eight threatened invertebrate species found across Dartmoor National Park:
💙 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus)
🪰 Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum)
💜 Violet Dor Beetle (Geotrupes mutator)
💧 Gravel Water Beetle (Hydrochus nitidicolis)
🐜 Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta)
🕷️ Lichen Running Spider (Philodromus margaritatus)
🦋 Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia)
🤎 High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)

Engaging local communities and visitors, inspiring a love of Dartmoor’s special bugs and helping to connect people with the wonderful invertebrates living right on their doorsteps.

ℹ️ Find out more and read the full story
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates
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📷 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus ) © Laura Larkin, Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) Female © Steven Falk, Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta) © Gus Jones, Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia) ©Darren Bradley
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#MoorInvertebrates #SpeciesRecovery @heritagefunduk @biggiveorg @westonfdn #LoveBUgs #InvertebratesOfInstagram #InsectsOfInstagram #WildlifeWednesday

Buglife backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to give a brighter future for Dartmoor’s threatened invertebrates.
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates (🔗link in bio)

Moor Invertebrates will help to give a brighter future to the following eight threatened invertebrate species found across Dartmoor National Park:
💙 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus)
🪰 Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum)
💜 Violet Dor Beetle (Geotrupes mutator)
💧 Gravel Water Beetle (Hydrochus nitidicolis)
🐜 Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta)
🕷️ Lichen Running Spider (Philodromus margaritatus)
🦋 Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia)
🤎 High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)

Engaging local communities and visitors, inspiring a love of Dartmoor’s special bugs and helping to connect people with the wonderful invertebrates living right on their doorsteps.

ℹ️ Find out more and read the full story
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates
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📷 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus ) © Laura Larkin, Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) Female © Steven Falk, Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta) © Gus Jones, Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia) ©Darren Bradley
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#MoorInvertebrates #SpeciesRecovery @heritagefunduk @biggiveorg @westonfdn #LoveBUgs #InvertebratesOfInstagram #InsectsOfInstagram #WildlifeWednesday

Buglife backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to give a brighter future for Dartmoor’s threatened invertebrates.
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates (🔗link in bio)

Moor Invertebrates will help to give a brighter future to the following eight threatened invertebrate species found across Dartmoor National Park:
💙 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus)
🪰 Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum)
💜 Violet Dor Beetle (Geotrupes mutator)
💧 Gravel Water Beetle (Hydrochus nitidicolis)
🐜 Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta)
🕷️ Lichen Running Spider (Philodromus margaritatus)
🦋 Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia)
🤎 High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)

Engaging local communities and visitors, inspiring a love of Dartmoor’s special bugs and helping to connect people with the wonderful invertebrates living right on their doorsteps.

ℹ️ Find out more and read the full story
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates
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📷 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus ) © Laura Larkin, Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) Female © Steven Falk, Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta) © Gus Jones, Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia) ©Darren Bradley
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#MoorInvertebrates #SpeciesRecovery @heritagefunduk @biggiveorg @westonfdn #LoveBUgs #InvertebratesOfInstagram #InsectsOfInstagram #WildlifeWednesday

Buglife backed by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to give a brighter future for Dartmoor’s threatened invertebrates.
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates (🔗link in bio)

Moor Invertebrates will help to give a brighter future to the following eight threatened invertebrate species found across Dartmoor National Park:
💙 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus)
🪰 Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum)
💜 Violet Dor Beetle (Geotrupes mutator)
💧 Gravel Water Beetle (Hydrochus nitidicolis)
🐜 Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta)
🕷️ Lichen Running Spider (Philodromus margaritatus)
🦋 Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia)
🤎 High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)

Engaging local communities and visitors, inspiring a love of Dartmoor’s special bugs and helping to connect people with the wonderful invertebrates living right on their doorsteps.

ℹ️ Find out more and read the full story
👇
buglife.org.uk/news/buglife-backed-by-the-national-lottery-heritage-fund-to-give-a-brighter-future-for-dartmoors-threatened-invertebrates
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📷 Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus ) © Laura Larkin, Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) Female © Steven Falk, Narrow-headed Ant (Formica exsecta) © Gus Jones, Marsh Fritillary (Euphydryas Aurinia) ©Darren Bradley
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#MoorInvertebrates #SpeciesRecovery @heritagefunduk @biggiveorg @westonfdn #LoveBUgs #InvertebratesOfInstagram #InsectsOfInstagram #WildlifeWednesday

We're delighted to share a sneaky-peak of an upcoming short film created by @dundeenatureguild focussing on the fantastic work of our Buglife Scotland Carse of Gowrie Conservation Officer, Neil, and his enthusiastic band of volunteers and local supporters.

🌳Carse of Gowrie Orchards: People for Pollinators is a three year funded project highlighting the importance of traditional orchards as a vital habitat for pollinators and other invertebrate species. Working with landowners, communities and local interest groups, including @dundeenatureguild; supporting them to create and manage orchards with our wildlife in mind.

💪 Volunteers are integral to the success of this project and its legacy, helping with the tasks throughout the project such as:
🔍 species Recording;
📝 ecological surveys;
🍐 fruit tree and wildflower planting;
🐝 bee bank creation;
🌳orchard management (including pruning etc.)

👏 A huge well done to everyone involved to date!

ℹ️ If you're interested in learning more, keep your eyes peeled for the release of the full short film on Sunday via @dundeenatureguild and in the meantime, head on over to our dedicated Carse of Gowrie Orchards: People for Pollinators project web page
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buglife.org.uk/projects/carse-of-gowrie-people-for-pollinators/ (🔗 link in bio)
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🎥 Aleks Loginovs / @dundeenatureguild
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#CarseOfGowrie #BuglifeScotland #Orchards #BLines #Invertebrates #InvertebrateOfInstagram #HeritageFund @heritagefunduk @naturescot @milkywire @animalfriendsinsurance #Trailer #Dundee #DundeeNatureGuild

🐝 Something big is buzzing… 🐝

Solitary Bee Week is nearly here! To commemorate World Bee Day, we’ll be putting these incredible little pollinators under the spotlight.

🗣️ From 20 May to 27 May, we'll explore the intricate lives of solitary bees, by sharing their stories, fascinating facts, and actionable steps to protect these vital invertebrates from environmental challenges.

🌼 Right now, solitary bees are most active in our gardens and green spaces so it's the perfect time for you to #EarnYourStripes, by taking action and making a difference! Whether you're eager to start a garden project, inspire future generations with educational activities, or find practical tips for coexisting with bees on your land, every action counts in the fight to reverse their decline.

Get involved, spread the buzz, and prepare to learn more by visiting our website
👇
buglife.org.uk/bugs/solitary-bee-week/ (🔗link in bio)

💛 Let’s come together to celebrate these amazing pollinators!
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#SolitaryBeeWeek #WorldBeeDay #Pollinators #Buglife #Conservation #GetInvolved #BugsMatter #SolitaryBee #NatureRecovery #SaveTheBees #BeeAwareness #BeeConservation #Invertebrate #Invertebrates #LoveBees #BeesOfInstagram