Have you seen the Tree Bee?
Back in 2001 we found a new species for the UK - the Tree Bumblebee - very exciting! Now, nine years later, the Tree Bee has once again got us buzzing because it's doing something really unusual. Can you help us to find out where this bee is, and watch out for its behaviour?
So how do I identify it?
It's a distinctive bee with a brown thorax, black abdomen and white tail. If you see this pattern (including the clear white tail) then you've found a Tree Bee!
So what's new?
Well, recently we've been receiving lots of reports of this species doing something a little unusual. They often nest in bird boxes and holes in trees so may be encountered in gardens. This year many people have reported seeing a cloud of males dancing at the entrance to the nest (pictured on the left). The video below shows you what to look out for - it's quite a spectacle!
We think these are males from other nests nearby which are hanging around in the hope of pouncing on a virgin queen as she emerges from the nest.
Can you help?
We're working with BWARS (the Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society) to track this bee as it expands its range, which it seems to be doing quite rapidly! We'd love to hear from you if you see it! We'd also like to know how common this behaviour is. It's possible that the Tree Bumblebee has been doing this for years, but perhaps we just hadn't noticed before.
If you see the Tree Bee, or this swarming behaviour, please try to grab a photo even if it's just on a camera phone. We really need to see a photo in order to use your records on the distribution maps because it's very important that these are as accurate as possible. Submit your records using the online 'Beewatch' system.
NOTE: Bumblebees are generally not aggressive and rarely sting unless handled roughly. Males do not have a sting, so the bees in the dancing cloud are harmless. However, if the worker bees feel that their nest is under attack some species are known to sting, so you should watch quietly from a few metres away and not get too close.
This species seems to react defensively in response to vibration. If the nest is on the side of your shed, particularly if it is close to the door, then be sure to open and close the door gently.
Under most circumstances there should be no reason to move the nest - it will naturally die off within a few months (like all bumblebee nests). However, if the nest is proving to be particularly problematic for some reason you could consider moving it, and further information on how to do so can be found here.
Thanks to Clive Hill for sending in this fascinating video
Submit your Tree Bee records here!
