There are numerous types of solitary bees and many that take wing with the first signs of spring. In fact, most of the bees we see in early spring will be of this kind. Solitary bees don’t sting and are incredibly important pollinators of flowers, fruit trees and crops like oil-seed rape. 

Solitary bees dig their own burrow and live in it alone. Depending on the species, a solitary bee nest can be found anywhere. But don’t worry about your house walls, solitary bees prefer holes in the ground or sandy banks. They can also be tempted to live in specially made ‘bee houses’ and even old snail shells.  

Some of the most common spring solitary bees you are likely to see in the coming months include the early mining bee, tawny mining bee and hairy-footed flower bee.  

Early Mining Bee

The early mining bee is one of the earliest solitary bees to emerge and can be active from March until June. They are very small, and females can be identified by a dark red tip on their abdomen plus a covering of foxy hairs on their back. 
 

Tawny Mining Bee

Tawny mining bees are covered in ginger fur and are a common species. They fly from April to June, coinciding with the flowering of fruit trees like cherry, pear and apple. Females collect pollen and nectar for their larvae which develop in her underground chamber and then spend winter as a pupa. 
You’re likely to see the signs of these bees before seeing one itself. Their nests leave volcano-like mounds in the ground as the entrance to their burrow. 

Hairy-Footed Flower Bee

As the name suggests, male hairy-footed flower bees do indeed have very hairy little feet. They are also incredibly territorial and will protect their own small patch of flowers. These wonderful bees are amongst the first to appear in spring, with males emerging as early as late February. They’re common locally and in the south of England, where you will likely find them feeding on lungwort, comfrey, ground-ivy, dead-nettles and primroses with their exceptionally long tongues.  

Of course these aren't the only bees you will find in your gardens and wild spaces. You can find out about all our bees that you can see during spring and summer here.