Have you heard the familiar whirr of bees buzzing around your garden yet? Many species emerge in spring to gorge on early nectar and find nest sites, so it’s the perfect time to go on a little bee hunt.

From huge, fuzzy bumblebee queens to pint-sized solitary bees, here are 11 early spring bees to look out for on your next trip outdoors.

Spring solitary bees
Spring bees in the UK aren’t just bumblebees; many of the early risers are solitary bees. As their name suggests, these species lead solitary lives rather than living in a multi-bee nest. They dig their own burrow and live in it alone. Depending on the species, a solitary bee nest can be found everywhere from holes in the ground and sandy banks to gaps in walls, special ‘bee houses’ and even old snail shells. But don’t worry about your walls; solitary bees won’t sting and are incredibly important pollinators of flowers, fruit trees and crops like oil-seed rape.

These are some of the most common spring solitary bees you are likely to see in our region.

• Early mining bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)
• Tawny mining bee (Andrena fulva)
• Gwynne’s mining bee (Andrena bicolor)
• Ashy mining bee (Andrena cineraria)
• Hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes)

Spring bumblebees
Did you know that queen bumblebees are the only members of the colony that survive the winter? They emerge in spring to gorge on early nectar and pollen before hunting out a nest site (usually a hole in the ground or abandoned small mammal burrow) where they will raise a brand new generation. These huge queens will be among the first bumblebees you see as spring arrives, and will usually be one of a handful of species.

• White-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)
• Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
• Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
• Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)
• Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
• Bilberry bumblebee (Bombus monticola)

As the weather continues to warm up and the landscape comes alive with insects, keep your eyes peeled for spring bees in your garden and local green spaces. You could even think about planting some spring flowers for bumblebees and solitary bees, or put up a solitary bee house in your garden to keep these species safe over winter.

Want to get involved? To learn more about animals, birds, pollinators, green spaces or conservation contact us at info@pollinatorpioneers.org.uk