Types of bees in the garden
We know about 350 different species of bees in The Netherlands, divided into three main groups.
- Honey bees – 1 type
- Solitary bees – about 330 types
- Bumblebees – about 20 types
Below are 38 species, listed alphabetically, that can often be found in gardens.
Whether you will actually see them depends a lot on where your garden is located and how bee- and insect-friendly your garden is.
Many people are afraid of bees, but like bumblebees. Yet bumblebees also belong to the bee family.
Honey bee
The most common bee species is the honeybee. Unlike other species, honey bees are present all year round, including in winter. They live in large colonies of about 10,000 bees in winter to 40,000 in summer. Inside the hive lives the queen, which is a one larger bee that lays eggs. Her presence ensures that everything in the hive functions properly.
Solitary bees
We don’t really know how many species of solitary bees there are in our country (NL). Solitary bees, as the name suggests, live alone. So not in a colony like the honey bee. There are more than 300 different species of solitary bees.
Bumblebees
Bumblebees are easily recognised by their woolly appearance and beautiful colours. The dense hairiness is a characteristic of bumblebees. It makes them better able to warm themselves, so they can fly even at lower temperatures. More than 20 species are known in our country, but only a few are common.
(bee names will be translated in English soon)
aardhommel m
aardhommel v
akkerhommel v
blauwe metselbij v
boomhommel v
bruine rouwbij v
dikkopbloedbij v
duinzijdebij v
geeltipje v
geelzwarte wespbij v
gewone geurgroefbij m
gewone geurgroefbij v
gewone koekoekshommel v
gewone maskerbij v
gewone sachembij m
gewone sachembij v donkere vorm
gewone sachembij v lichte vorm
gewone slobkousbij v
gewone wespbij v
grijze rimpelrug v
grote bladsnijder m
grote bladsnijder v
grote klokjesbij v
grote roetbij v
grote wolbij m
honingbij v
meidoornzandbij m
meidoornzandbij v
parkbronsgroefbij m
parkbronsgroefbij v
pluimvoetbij m
pluimvoetbij v
roodgatje v
roodpotige groefbij m
roodpotige groefbij v
rosse metselbij v
signaalwespbij v
steenhommel m
steenhommel v
tuinbladsnijder m
tuinbladsnijder v
tuinhommel v
veldhommel m donkere vorm
veldhommel m lichte vorm
vierkleurige koekoekshommel m
viltvlekzandbij v
vosje v
weidehommel m donkere vorm
weidehommel m lichte vorm
weidehommel v
witbaardzandbij v
wormkruidbij v
Illustrations: Jeroen de Rond
