FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION TRUST

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Montage of images including bumblebees, people and flowers February is often known as the gateway to spring. While still a winter month and a bit chilly it brings with it the first signs of seasonal change, like beautiful crocuses and hazel catkins. Spring is just around the corner! As the days slowly grow longer, now is the perfect time to brush up on your bumblebee ID skills and get ready for the season ahead. Soon, queen bumblebees will be emerging in search of food and nesting sites. By learning to identify the different species now, you'll be ready to spot and support these precious pollinators. Do you know how bumblebees keep warm? 🌡️ Queen bumblebee basking on a mossy bank Insects are cold-blooded animals which means that, unlike us, they cannot control their own temperatures. They need the sun to warm them up when its cool and they need shade to cool them down when its hot! So how do bumblebees, such as emerging queens in spring, warm up to take flight? Well, on a cool day, a bumblebee can raise their body temperature by dislocating their wings and shivering their flight muscles to reach the snug 30°C they need to fly. If you're lucky enough to witness this it will be accompanied with a loud buzz. Watch emerging queen vibrate her wings 📽️ News - UK Government ends cycle of authorising banned, bee-harming pesticide Last month, there was welcome news for bumblebees as the UK Government rejected an application to use a banned, bee-harming pesticide on sugar beet crops in England this year. We now call on the UK Government to publish the long-overdue UK National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides which could be used to set meaningful targets to reduce pesticide use across the UK. Bumblebee on yellow flower Bee the Change - go pesticide FREE 🙌 Bumblebee on sunflower with image of guide inset to the right Leaving weed killers and bug sprays on the shelf is one of the best things you can do to help bumblebees. Using pesticides can directly harm the bumblebees and other pollinators visiting your patch by killing them directly or affecting their ability to find food and reproduce. Pesticides can also indirectly impact bumblebees by destroying the wildflowers that they need to feed on. Download our guide to discover some simple, practical ways you can make the switch to gardening organically and in balance with nature. Already gone pesticide-free? Share this resource with work colleagues, friends and family Download your FREE guide! 💻 How to ID the UK's 8 common bumblebees Two Red-tailed bumblebees on a pink flower There are 24 different species of bumblebee in the UK. At first glance these large, round and hairy charismatic insects all look the same, but some have very different features! With knowledge of which features to focus on, and a little practice, you’ll soon start to tell them apart. Let's start with the UK's eight most common bumblebees you are likely to see in your garden or community space. Check out this fun, five minute bumblebee ID video to get started⬆️ And then head over to our Bee the Change page and download your FREE 'Big 8' bumblebee ID guide ⬇️ The Big 8 bumblebee ID guide 🐝 Bee ID pack Looking to further your bumblebee ID skills? Our Bee ID pack is the perfect resource! Full of information for nature lovers, from beginners to experts, this pack includes our UK Bumblebees poster, car sticker, ‘What’s that bumblebee?’ guide, bumblebee-friendly flower seeds, and an ‘enamel’ badge. Image shows poster, seeds and ID guide Bee ID mug Want a fun and practical way to learn bumblebee ID? Our 'bumblebee big 8' mug features the eight most common UK species of bumblebees, making it the perfect alternative to a traditional guide! Whenever you're enjoying your morning coffee or tea, you can brush up on your bee ID skills while supporting bumblebee conservation. Get yours today and sip while you spot! Bee Id mug showing 4 bees next to plant Coming soon . . the Hairy footed-flower bee Female Hairy footed-flower bee in flight above purple flower This species is one of the first solitary bees to emerge in spring and people often confuse them for small bumblebees, although their quick darting flight motion is a good way to tell them apart. Seen from February through to June, they are frequent visitors to lungworts, primroses, dead-nettles and comfrey. Can you ID this solitary bee? Every year we receive lots of enquiries from people who find these bees inside their homes, despite all the windows and doors being closed. This is usually because the bees have nested in the soft mortar around the chimney stack and accidentally end up falling down the chimney. If this happens you can gently usher the bees outside again so that they can complete their lifecycle. Hairy footed-flower bee 🌸 Did you know you can subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow our projects on X: @nikkigammans @BuzzingWales @BuzzingShrill @BuzzingScotland X icon in blue and white Facebook icon in blue and white Instagram icon in blue and white Threads icon in blue and white YouTube icon in blue and white Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Registered Charity No: 1115634 / Scottish Charity No: SC042830. © 2025 Bumblebee Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this newsletter because you are already a member, subscribed via our website, an event or when becoming a volunteer. We hope you enjoy reading it! Registered address: International House, 109-111 Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8JA; Correspondence address: Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Beta Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling FK9 4NF Unsubscribe