Which bee is that bee?
HOW TO ID YOUR BEE WITH CONFIDENCE
With well over 250 species of bee in the UK, trying to decide which bee is the bee you're looking at can be a bit daunting! But never fear, help is at hand, and there are lots of ID guides to download, print, or buy.
Click on the image to get started with a simple UK bee identification chart from Friends of the Earth, which covers our more widespread and common species.
Maybe you'd prefer to start with a single type of bee? If so, head on over to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust website for their top ID tips.
For excellent field guides, you can't go wrong with Field Studies Council identification charts, which are laminated for extra toughness:
If you're more of an app person these are our favourites so far, but we're always on the lookout for new ones to try so let us know if you find something better!
Many of the links on this page can also be found on the comprehensive list of printed and online bee ID guides on the Field Studies Council ID Signpost webpage, so whether you're an absolute beginner or something of an expert you should find something suitable there. And now you have plenty to choose from, why not test out your skills by taking part in the Great British Bee Count, or the Flower-Insect Timed (FIT) Count, both of which contribute to the National Pollinator Monitoring Strategy.