Spring Bees

"But what about our favourite bumblebees?" asked Henry. "What do you know about them?"

"Well," replied Richard, "Did you know that queen bumblebees are the only members of the colony that survive the Winter?

They emerge in Spring to fill themselves with 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 only a handful of different types like buff-tailed bumblebees, red-tailed bumblebees, bilberry bumblebees and tree bumblebees."

"Then there are honey bees which live in hives and they make the honey we eat on our sandwiches and porridge," continued Richard. "Apparently bees can each travel up to 12 miles a day searching for pollen and nectar in the Summer!"