About
Bees and wasps are probably our most familiar insects, visiting our gardens from spring until autumn. Bees perform a vital role because they are responsible for pollinating flowers, enabling us to enjoy apples, tomatoes and even more flowers next year. Wasps are also useful to gardeners and farmers because they eat many types of insect pests. There are many different species of bees and wasps living in the UK, some form colonies and some are solitary.
Bees
Some species of bee are solitary, while others form fairly small colonies of no more than a few hundred individuals. The colony is headed by the queen bee who lays the eggs, while worker bees collect the pollen and nectar which keeps the colony supplied. Over 2,000 beekeepers actually keep colonies of honey bees in London. Honey bees form huge colonies of as many as 20,000 individuals, all the offspring of a single queen bee.
Wasps
Again some species of wasp are solitary, but there are seven species of wasp which form colonies in the UK, including the hornet. All are easily identified by their distinctive yellow and black stripes which act as a warning that they sting. Queen wasps hibernate during the winter and start looking for a nest site in spring. They then make a nest of paper from chewed up wood fibres and start laying eggs. The wasp larvae are fed on caterpillars, spiders and aphids which the workers catch for them. Worker wasps also love to eat nectar or anything sugary, such as rotting fruit. A queen wasp can lay as many as 2,000 eggs each day.
Solitary
There are over 200 species of solitary bees and wasps in the UK. Solitary bees lay their eggs in cells hidden away in soft sand, soil or mortar, providing each egg with its own food supply. Perhaps the best known solitary bee is the leaf-cutter which is responsible for cutting neat little semi-circles from the leaves and flowers of roses. They are very distinctive because of the bright orange pollen brush on their back legs.
Colonies
Many bees and wasps build large nests which can be home to over 20,000 insects. Nests may be built in trees, lofts, sheds, nest boxes, compost heaps or any other secluded place. While bees and wasps will defend their nests, they are unlikely to attack you unless you get too close. If possible, it is best to leave their nests well alone. Remember that bumble bees will never attack you if left alone. If you do want to have a bee nest removed, you should only use experts. Contact your local authority or the Beekeepers' Association for advice. Pest controllers usually destroy wasp nests, as they are difficult to relocate.
How to spot
Bees and wasps are instantly recognizable. Individuals are usually seen collecting pollen from flowers to transport it back to the nest. Sometimes, when the population of the honey bee hive gets too big, the queen flies out of the nest taking a cloud of worker bees with her, creating a swarm. Wasps nests are often found in the lofts of houses or in sheds. Many types of bee and wasp can and will sting. The sting is hidden away inside the body of the insect and is full of venom. Bees and wasps will not normally attack you unless they feel threatened in some way. For example, if you get too close to the entrance to the nest or try to obstruct it. Bees can only sting once as their internal organs are destroyed and they quickly die. Wasps can sting many times.
Swarm
The flying swarm can look very frightening, especially if they all land on a nearby tree. This usually only happens for a short while, while other bees scout around looking for a suitable site to build a nest, such as in the hollow of a tree. While a swarm can be very intimidating, there is usually little reason to be afraid. Swarming bees are all gorged with honey and are normally quite passive. However, it is best to keep well away from the swarm even though it will probably not be at all dangerous. If you discover a swarm, call the Beekeepers Association or local authority. They will try to arrange for a beekeeper to take the swarm away. Make sure that you demand that the bees are housed and not destroyed.
Where and when to see them
Bees and wasps hibernate in the winter so you are most likely to see them flying around your garden in the summer. Bumble bees are the first to wake up in spring as they can tolerate lower temperatures and the beating of their wings generates enough body heat to get them going in the cooler temperatures.
Fascinating fact
The average worker bee produces only about 1/12th teaspoon of honey in her lifetime.
Living with bees and wasps
The benefits that bees and wasps provide for gardeners and farmers far outweigh any nuisance they might cause. There is also growing concern that the number of bees is declining due to the spread of disease and changes to the countryside. There is therefore a good argument for taking measures to encourage them. London Wildlife Trust recommends that we try to live with bees and wasps and only attempt to interfere when they are causing a serious nuisance.