Bumblebees
Banded white-tailed bumblebees
When to see them: March-November (sometimes year-round in the south).
Nesting habits: Old burrows and cavities.
ID tips: Distinctive yellow and black bands and a white tail.
Description: The classic stripy bumblebees. Several species of bumblebee have this colour pattern.
See our guide to the most common species of banded white-tailed bumblebees.
![Banded white-tailed bumblebees](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/bee_illus_1_White-tailed-bumblebee_XSM.jpg?itok=pCfMoEkZ)
Early bumblebee
When to see them: March-June.
Nesting habits: Old burrows and cavities.
ID tips: Yellow and black bands and an orange tail. Small size. Males have yellow facial hair.
Description: The UK’s smallest bumblebee. Common in gardens and other areas with trees and bushes. The early bumblebee is a key pollinator of summer fruits such as raspberries.
![Early bumblebee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/bee_illus_2_Early-Bumblebee_XSM.jpg?itok=a6n8azlZ)
Get your own bee ID guide
Order a bee saver kit and get a fold-out bee identification guide to take out into your nearest park or garden.
The kit also contains wildflower seeds to attract and feed more bees, as well as a garden planner and a bee-themed postcard.
![Picture of Bee Saver Kit 2021](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/media/images/Bee%20pack%20shot-min.png?itok=8dti_SeK)
Red-tailed black bumblebees
When to see them: April-November.
Nesting habits: Old burrows or tussocks.
ID tips: Black body and an orange tail. Male red-tailed bumblebees have a yellow ruff.
Description: Of the three species this colour, you are most likely to see the red-tailed bumblebee, but check for dark-winged red-tailed cuckoo bees which are nest parasites.
See our guide to red-tailed black bumblebees.
![Red-tailed black bumblebees](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/body_text_image/public/bee_illus_3_Red-tailed-bumblebee_XSM_0.jpg?itok=Pltvb7UI)
![Brown Carder Bees](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_4_BROWN-CARDER-BEES_XSM.jpg?itok=FmTVz339)
Brown carder bees
![Brown Carder Bees](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_4_BROWN-CARDER-BEES_XSM.jpg?itok=FmTVz339)
![Tree Bumblebee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_5_TREE-BUMBLEBEE_XSM.jpg?itok=WBo4pZB8)
Tree bumblebee
![Tree Bumblebee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_5_TREE-BUMBLEBEE_XSM.jpg?itok=WBo4pZB8)
Share this guide with your friends and family
Shrill carder bee
![Shrill Carder Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_15_SHRILL-CARDER-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=dbBEZTXg)
Honeybee
Honeybee
![Honeybee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_6_HONEYBEE_XSM.jpg?itok=FJJ_MO_N)
and give nature a boost.
Solitary bees
Hairy-footed flower bee
![Hairy-Footed Flower Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_7_HAIRY-FOOTED-FLOWER-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=YyFaYwfc)
Common mourning bee
![Common Mourning Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_8_COMMON-MOURNING-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=Wy8AI6_d)
Wool carder bee
![Wool Carder Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_9_WOOL-CARDER-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=7bSrrO_X)
Leafcutter bees
![Leafcutter Bees](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_10_LEAFCUTTER-BEES_XSM.jpg?itok=IRb7oqBt)
Small scissor bee
![Small scissor bee - Chelostoma campanularum](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/Small_scissor%20bee%20-%20Chelostoma%20campanularum.jpg?itok=GKdNTAkM)
Red mason bee
![Red Mason Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_11_RED-MASON-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=MIbLPuLi)
Tawny mining bee
![Tawny Mining Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_12_TAWNY-MINING-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=ZmFsLzu2)
Ashy mining bee
![Ashy mining bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_13_ASHY-MINING-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=59IKqQuq)
Orange-tailed mining bee
![Orange-Tailed Mining Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_14_ORANGE-TAILED-MINING-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=FDEflVt3)
Long-horned bee
![Long-Horned Bee](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_16_LONG-HORNED-BEE_XSM.jpg?itok=8oP4-wVo)
Bee lookalikes
Hoverflies
![Hoverflies](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_18_HOVERFLIES_XSM.jpg?itok=PNsRq2ek)
Social wasps
![Social Wasps](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_17_SOCIAL-WASPS_XSM.jpg?itok=g7hz-wJY)
![Bee-flies](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_19_BEE-FLIES_XSM.jpg?itok=PrBsbASA)
Bee flies
![Bee-flies](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/bee_illus_19_BEE-FLIES_XSM.jpg?itok=PrBsbASA)
With thanks to Chris Shields for bee illustrations.
![Children at Reay Primary School learning about bees](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/children%20learning%20about%20bees.jpg?itok=MM6hSipj)
Bee campaign successes
![Children at Reay Primary School learning about bees](http://cdn.friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/styles/media_with_text_image/public/media/images/children%20learning%20about%20bees.jpg?itok=MM6hSipj)
to create a haven for wild bees.