List of bees of Great Britain facts for kids

This article contains a list of bees of Great Britain. The following species are all within the superfamily Apoidea.

Family Colletidae

Genus Colletes: plasterer bees

• Colletes cunicularius, vernal colletes bee or spring mining-bee
• Colletes daviesanus, Davies' colletes bee; Common in England, scarce in Scotland and Ireland
• Colletes floralis, northern colletes bee
• Colletes fodiens, hairy-saddled colletes bee; Widespread on sandy habitats in England, Wales and southern Scotland
• Colletes halophilus, sea aster bee
• Colletes hederae, ivy bee; Southern, generally coastal distribution
• Colletes marginatus, little colletes bee; Localised to sand dunes on coasts of England and Wales. Inland population in the Brecks.
• Colletes similis, common plasterer bee; Widespread in southern Britain and Ireland
• Colletes succinctus, heather colletes bee; Widespread throughout the Britain and Ireland on heathland and moorland

Genus Hylaeus: yellow-face bees

• Hylaeus annularis, shingle yellow-face bee; Widespread, locally common syn. Hylaeus spilotus
• Hylaeus brevicornis, short-horned yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus communis, common yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus confusus, white-jawed yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus cornutus, spined hylaeus bee
• Hylaeus dilatatus, chalk yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus hyalinatus, hairy yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus incongruus, white-lipped yellow-face bee; syn. Hylaeus gibbus
• Hylaeus pectoralis, reed yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus pictipes, little yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus punctulatissimus, onion yellow-face bee
• Hylaeus signatus, large yellow-face bee

Family Andrenidae

Genus Andrena: mining bees

• Andrena agilissima, violet-winged mining bee
• Andrena angustior, groove-faced mining bee
• Andrena apicata, large sallow mining bee
• Andrena argentata, small sandpit mining bee
• Andrena barbilabris, sandpit mining bee
• Andrena bicolor, Gwynne's mining bee
• Andrena bimaculata, large gorse mining bee
• Andrena bucephala, large-headed mining bee
• Andrena chrysosceles, hawthorn mining bee
• Andrena cineraria, ashy mining bee
• Andrena clarkella, Clarke's mining bee
• Andrena coitana, small-flecked mining bee
• Andrena congruens, long-fringed mining bee
• Andrena denticulata, grey-banded mining bee
• Andrena dorsata, short-fringed mining bee
• Andrena ferox, oak mining bee
• Andrena flavipes, yellow-legged mining bee
• Andrena florea, bryony mining bee
• Andrena fucata, painted mining bee
• Andrena fulva, tawny mining bee
• Andrena fulvago, hawksbeard mining bee
• Andrena fuscipes, heather mining bee
• Andrena gravida, white-bellied mining bee
• Andrena haemorrhoa, orange-tailed mining bee
• Andrena hattorfiana, large scabious mining bee
• Andrena helvola, coppice mining bee
• Andrena humilis, catsear mining bee
• Andrena labialis, large meadow mining bee
• Andrena labiata, red-girdled mining bee
• Andrena lapponica, bilberry mining bee
• Andrena lathyri, Burbage mining bee
• Andrena lepida, Aldworth mining bee
• Andrena marginata, small scabious mining bee
• Andrena nigriceps, black-headed mining bee
• Andrena nigroaenea, buffish mining bee
• Andrena nigrospina, scarce black mining bee
• Andrena nitida, grey-patched mining bee
• Andrena nitidiuscula, carrot mining bee
• Andrena ovatula, small gorse mining bee
• Andrena pilipes, black mining bee
• Andrena polita, Maidstone mining bee
• Andrena praecox, small sallow mining bee
• Andrena proxima, broad-faced mining bee
• Andrena rosae, Perkins' mining bee
• Andrena ruficrus, northern mining bee
• Andrena scotica, chocolate mining bee
• Andrena similis, red-backed mining bee
• Andrena simillima, buff-banded mining bee
• Andrena synadelpha, broad-margined mining bee
• Andrena tarsata, tormentil mining bee
• Andrena thoracica, cliff mining bee
• Andrena tibialis, grey-gastered mining bee
• Andrena tridentata, pale-tailed mining bee
• Andrena trimmerana, Trimmer's mining bee
• Andrena vaga, Grey-backed mining bee
• Andrena varians, blackthorn mining bee
• Andrena wilkella, Wilke's mining bee

Subgenus Micrandrena: mini-miners

• Andrena alfkenella, Alfken's miniature mining bee
• Andrena falsifica, thick-margined miniature mining bee
• Andrena floricola, Chilterns miniature mining bee
• Andrena minutula, common miniature mining bee
• Andrena minutuloides, plain miniature mining bee
• Andrena nana, Barham miniature mining bee
• Andrena nanula, red-horned miniature mining bee
• Andrena niveata, long-fringed miniature mining bee
• Andrena semilaevis, shiny-margined miniature mining bee
• Andrena subopaca, impunctate miniature mining bee

Genus Panurgus: shaggy bees

• Panurgus banksianus, large shaggy bee
• Panurgus calcaratus, small shaggy bee

Family Halictidae

Genus Halictus: end-banded furrow bees

• Halictus confusus, southern bronze furrow bee
• Halictus eurygnathus, downland furrow bee
• Halictus maculatus, square-headed furrow bee
• Halictus quadricinctus, giant furrow bee
• Halictus rubicundus, orange-legged furrow bee
• Halictus scabiosae, great-banded furrow bee
• Halictus subauratus, golden furrow bee
• Halictus tumulorum, bronze furrow bee

Genus Lasioglossum: base-banded furrow bees

• Lasioglossum albipes, bloomed furrow bee
• Lasioglossum angusticeps, cliff furrow bee
• Lasioglossum brevicorne, short-horned furrow bee
• Lasioglossum calceatum, common furrow bee
• Lasioglossum cupromicans, turquoise furrow bee
• Lasioglossum fratellum, smooth-faced furrow bee
• Lasioglossum fulvicorne, lime-loving furrow bee
• Lasioglossum laeve, shiny-gastered furrow bee
• Lasioglossum laevigatum, black-mouthed furrow bee
• Lasioglossum laticeps, broad-faced furrow bee
• Lasioglossum lativentre, furry-claspered furrow bee
• Lasioglossum leucopus, white-footed green furrow bee
• Lasioglossum leucozonium, white-zoned furrow bee
• Lasioglossum limbellum, ridge-gastered furrow bee
• Lasioglossum malachurum, sharp-collared furrow bee
• Lasioglossum minutissimum, least furrow bee
• Lasioglossum morio, common green furrow bee
• Lasioglossum nitidiusculum, tufted furrow bee
• Lasioglossum parvulum, smooth-gastered furrow bee
• Lasioglossum pauperatum, squat furrow bee
• Lasioglossum pauxillum, lobe-spurred furrow bee
• Lasioglossum prasinum, grey-tailed furrow bee
• Lasioglossum punctatissimum, long-faced furrow bee
• Lasioglossum puncticolle, ridge-cheeked furrow bee
• Lasioglossum quadrinotatum, four-spotted furrow bee
• Lasioglossum rufitarse, rufous-footed furrow bee
• Lasioglossum semilucens, small shiny furrow bee
• Lasioglossum sexnotatum, ashy furrow bee
• Lasioglossum smeathmanellum, Smeathman's furrow bee
• Lasioglossum villosulum, orange-footed furrow bee
• Lasioglossum xanthopus, shaggy furrow bee
• Lasioglossum zonulus, bull-headed furrow bee

Genus Sphecodes: blood bees

• Sphecodes albilabris, giant blood bee
• Sphecodes crassus, swollen-thighed blood bee
• Sphecodes ephippius, bare-saddled blood bee
• Sphecodes ferruginatus, dull-headed blood bee
• Sphecodes geoffrellus, Geoffroy's blood bee
• Sphecodes gibbus, dark-winged blood bee
• Sphecodes hyalinatus, furry-bellied blood bee
• Sphecodes longulus, little sickle-jawed blood bee
• Sphecodes marginatus, margined blood bee
• Sphecodes miniatus, false-margined blood bee
• Sphecodes monilicornis, box-headed blood bee
• Sphecodes niger, dark blood bee
• Sphecodes pellucidus, sandpit blood bee
• Sphecodes puncticeps, sickle-jawed blood bee
• Sphecodes reticulatus, reticulate blood bee
• Sphecodes rubicundus, red-tailed blood bee
• Sphecodes scabricollis, rough-backed blood bee
• Sphecodes spinulosus, spined blood bee

Genus Dufourea: short-faced bees

• Dufourea halictula, sheep's bit short-faced bee
• Dufourea minuta, shiny short-faced bee

Genus Rophites: bristle-headed bees

• Rophites quinquespinosus, five-spined bee

Family Melittidae

Genus Dasypoda: pantaloon bees

• Dasypoda hirtipes, pantaloon bee

Genus Melitta: blunthorn bees

• Melitta dimidiata, sainfoin blunthorn bee
• Melitta haemorrhoidalis, bellflower blunthorn bee
• Melitta leporina, clover blunthorn bee
• Melitta tricincta, red bartsia blunthorn bee

Genus Macropis: loosestrife bees

• Macropis europaea, yellow loosestrife bee

Family Megachilidae

Genus Anthidium: wool carder bees

• Anthidium manicatum, European wool carder bee

Genus Stelis: dark bees

• Stelis breviuscula, little dark bee
• Stelis ornatula, spotted dark bee
• Stelis phaeoptera, plain dark bee
• Stelis punctulatissima, banded dark bee

Genus Heriades: resin bees

• Heriades truncorum, ridge-saddled carpenter bee

Genus Chelostoma: scissor bees

• Chelostoma campanularum, small scissor bee
• Chelostoma florisomne, large scissor bee

Genus Osmia: mason bees

• Osmia aurulenta, gold-fringed mason bee
• Osmia bicolor, two-coloured mason bee
• Osmia caerulescens, blue mason bee
• Osmia inermis, mountain mason bee
• Osmia leaiana, orange-vented mason bee
• Osmia niveata, Jersey mason bee
• Osmia parietina, wall mason bee
• Osmia pilicornis, fringe-horned mason bee
• Osmia bicornis, red mason bee
• Osmia uncinata, pinewood mason bee
• Osmia xanthomelana, large mason bee

Genus Hoplitis: lesser mason bees

• Hoplitis claviventris, welted lesser mason bee
• Hoplitis leucomelana, black and white lesser mason bee
• Hoplitis spinulosa, spined mason bee syn. Osmia spinulosa

Genus Megachile: leaf-cutter bees

• Megachile centuncularis, patchwork leaf-cutter bee
• Megachile circumcincta, black-headed leaf-cutter bee
• Megachile dorsalis, silvery leaf-cutter bee
• Megachile lapponica, willowherb leaf-cutter bee
• Megachile ligniseca, wood-carving leaf-cutter bee
• Megachile maritima, coastal leaf-cutter bee
• Megachile versicolor, brown-footed leaf-cutter bee
• Megachile willughbiella, Willughby's leaf-cutter bee

Genus Coelioxys: sharp-tailed bees

• Coelioxys afra, short sharp-tailed bee
• Coelioxys brevis, narrow-bodied sharp-tailed bee
• Coelioxys conoidea, large sharp-tailed bee
• Coelioxys elongata, dull-vented sharp-tailed bee
• Coelioxys inermis, shiny-vented sharp-tailed bee
• Coelioxys mandibularis, small leaf-cutter cuckoo bee
• Coelioxys quadridentata, four-toothed sharp-tailed bee
• Coelioxys rufescens, rufescent sharp-tailed bee

Family Apidae

Genus Nomada: nomad bees

• Nomada alboguttata, large bear-clawed nomad bee
• Nomada argentata, silver-sided nomad bee
• Nomada armata, armed nomad bee
• Nomada baccata, bear-clawed nomad bee
• Nomada bifasciata, dusky-horned nomad bee
• Nomada castellana, Castell's nomad bee
• Nomada conjungens, fringeless nomad bee
• Nomada errans, Purbeck nomad bee
• Nomada fabriciana, Fabricus' nomad bee
• Nomada ferruginata, yellow-shouldered nomad bee
• Nomada flava, flavous yellow nomad bee
• Nomada flavoguttata, small nomad bee
• Nomada flavopicta, blunthorn nomad bee
• Nomada fucata, painted nomad bee
• Nomada fulvicornis, orange-horned nomad bee
• Nomada fuscicornis, small Guernsey nomad bee
• Nomada glabella, bilberry nomad bee
• Nomada goodeniana, Gooden's nomad bee
• Nomada guttulata, short-spined nomad bee
• Nomada hirtipes, long-horned nomad bee
• Nomada integra, catsear nomad bee
• Nomada lathburiana, lathbury's nomad bee
• Nomada leucophthalma, early nomad bee
• Nomada marshamella, Marsham's nomad bee
• Nomada obtusifrons, flat-ridged nomad bee
• Nomada panzeri, Panzer's nomad bee
• Nomada roberjeotiana, tormentil nomad bee
• Nomada ruficornis, fork-jawed nomad bee
• Nomada rufipes, black-horned nomad bee
• Nomada sexfasciata, six-banded nomad bee
• Nomada sheppardana, Sheppard's nomad bee
• Nomada signata, broad-banded nomad bee
• Nomada similis, Guernsey nomad bee
• Nomada striata, blunt-jawed nomad bee
• Nomada subcornuta, Kirby's nomad bee
• Nomada succincta, yellow-legged nomad bee
• Nomada zonata, variable nomad bee

Genus Epeolus: cuckoo mining bees

• Epeolus cruciger, red thighed cuckoo mining bee
• Epeolus variegatus, variegated cuckoo mining bee

Genus Eucera: long-horned bees

• Eucera longicornis, long-horned bee
• Eucera nigrescens, early long-horned bee

Genus Anthophora: flower bees

• Anthophora bimaculata, green-eyed flower bee
• Anthophora furcata, fork-tailed flower bee
• Anthophora plumipes, hairy-footed flower bee
• Anthophora quadrimaculata, four-banded flower bee
• Anthophora retusa, potter flower bee

Genus Melecta: mourning bees

• Melecta albifrons, mourning bee
• Melecta luctuosa, square-spotted mourning bee

Genus Ceratina: small carpenter bees

• Ceratina cyanea, blue carpenter bee

Genus Xylocopa: large carpenter bees

• Xylocopa violacea, violet carpenter bee

Genus Bombus: bumblebees

Subgenus Bombus: white-tailed bumblebees

• Bombus cryptarum, cryptic bumblebee
• Bombus lucorum, white-tailed bumblebee
• Bombus magnus, northern white-tailed bumblebee
• Bombus terrestris, buff-tailed bumblebee

Subgenus Kallobombus: broken-belted bumblebee

• Bombus soroeensis, broken-belted bumblebee

Subgenus Megabombus: greater bumblebees

• Bombus hortorum, garden bumblebee
• Bombus ruderatus, large garden bumblebee

Subgenus Melanobombus: black-bodied bumblebees

• Bombus lapidarius, red-tailed bumblebee

Subgenus Psithyrus: cuckoo bumblebees

• Bombus barbutellus, Barbut's cuckoo-bee
• Bombus bohemicus, gypsy cuckoo-bee
• Bombus campestris, field cuckoo-bee
• Bombus rupestris, red-tailed cuckoo-bee
• Bombus sylvestris, forest cuckoo-bee
• Bombus vestalis, vestal cuckoo-bee

Subgenus Pyrobombus: fiery-tailed bumblebees

• Bombus hypnorum, tree bumblebee
• Bombus jonellus, heath bumblebee
• Bombus monticola, bilberry bumblebee
• Bombus pratorum, early bumblebee

Subgenus Subterraneobombus: yellow bumblebee

• Bombus distinguendus, great yellow bumblebee

Subgenus Thoracombus: carder bees

• Bombus humilis, brown-banded carder bee
• Bombus muscorum, moss carder bee
• Bombus pascuorum, common carder bee
• Bombus ruderarius, red-shanked carder bee
• Bombus sylvarum, shrill carder bee

Genus Apis: honeybees

• Apis mellifera, western honey bee
  • Apis mellifera mellifera, European dark bee