We need your help to record bees across North East EnglandBees play an important role in the environment. To protect them, we need to know as much as we can about their distribution.
Many bees are under-recorded in the North East and for some, we know surprisingly little about their distribution. Gaps in our knowledge suggest that some nationally common species are few and far between in the North East, but is this really the case? Your records can help us find out.
Get involvedUrban or rural, beginner or expert, naturalist or nature lover, you can help to increase our knowledge and awareness of bees in the North East. That’s why, this spring and summer, we’re asking you to get out and about in search of five distinctive bee species.
Search, study, submit.Taking part in the North East Bee Hunt is simple. You need only keep a lookout for these five bees, take a photo and submit your record on IRecord.
Every record counts, whether you live in Northumberland, Durham or Teesside. Whether you intend to record in your garden or head out into the wider countryside, we’d love you to get involved.
To take part, and for further information, please visit www.nhsn.ncl.ac.uk/the-north-east-bee-hunt
Inspire others with your success and share your North East bee sightings with us at
@NEE_Naturalist
@naturalhistorynorthumbria
@nee_naturalist
If you have any questions, or would like to contribute to the North East Bee Hunt, please email [email protected]
or see our website: www.nhsn.ncl.ac.uk/the-north-east-bee-hunt
Bumblebees of North East England
The first publication of its kind, Bumblebees of North East England provides a comprehensive overview of distribution, ecology and history of the twenty-two bumblebee species recorded in our region. It’s a great place to learn more about bees this year.
Pick-up your copy for just £8.00 by visiting www.nhsn.ncl.ac.uk
Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva)Active: Late March-June.
Nesting habit: In the ground e.g lawn and short turf, often in aggregations.
Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)Active: March-October.
Nesting habit: Nesting habitat: in aerial cavities e.g. bird boxes, holes in trees.
Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria)Active: Late March-June.
Nesting habit: In the ground e.g lawn and short turf, often in aggregations.
Five species to search for this spring and summerThe bees shown below are under-recorded in the North East but are likely to be encountered right across the region, including in your own garden.
Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis)Active: Late March-June.
Nesting habit: Aerial-nesting in holes of walls and timber, frequent occupier of garden bee hotels.
Confusion species: Tawny Mining Bee is similarly coloured, but has a strong contrasting red and black look and nests in the ground.
Nesting habit: Usually underground e.g old rodent burrows.
Solitary BeesThe females of the following target species are very distinctive.
However, males of solitary bees are less distinctive and more care and expertise is required.
BumblebeesQueens and workers have shiny hind legs that are used to collect pollen, called pollen baskets.
Males do not collect pollen and lack these shiny hind legs.
Female• Two grey-haired bands on
thorax• Bluish-black abdomen• Black-haired hind legs
Male• Smaller and less distinctive• Conspicuous tuft of white
hairs on face• White-haired thorax,
with some white hairs on abdomen
• Longer antennae
Queen/Worker• Ginger thorax• Black abdomen• White tail• Workers resemble small
queens
Male• Similar to females• Ginger hairs often extend
onto abdomen• Often conspicuous
ginger tuft on head
Queen/Worker• Jet-black body with deep
crimson tail• Workers resemble small
queens
Male• Yellow facial hair• Yellow collar behind
head and weak midriff band
• Red tail
Female• Dense fox-coloured coat.• Black-haired head, side of
thorax and legs
Female• Two facial horns unique to
British species• Pale brown-haired thorax• Orange-haired abdomen
Male• Smaller • Longer antennae• Conspicuous tuft of light
hairs on face
Confusion species: The Red-tailed Cuckoo Bee (Bombus rupestris) attacks Red-tailed Bumblebee nests. Their wings are smoky, their coat more sparsely haired and females lack the shiny legs (they have no pollen baskets).
Recent ArrivalThis species was absent from the UK until 2001 when it was first recorded in Wiltshire. It has since rapidly spread throughout the country and was first recorded in the North East in 2007 at Simonside.
