Scottish Species Finder

The most familiar bee in Scotland, kept by beekeepers for honey production and pollination. Wild colonies are rare but do exist in tree cavities and old buildings.

Scotland's most common bumblebee and one of the first to emerge in spring. Queens are large with a buff-coloured tail, workers have a white tail. Forms large colonies of up to 400 workers.

Very similar to the Buff-tailed Bumblebee but with a pure white tail on both queens and workers. One of Scotland's most abundant bumblebees, found from sea level to mountain tops.

Unmistakable with its all-black body and vivid red tail. Queens are large and conspicuous. Common in gardens and farmland across Lowland Scotland.

Scotland's only all-ginger/brown bumblebee. Smaller than most bumblebees and one of the last to be seen in autumn. Nests above ground in tussocky grass and moss.

One of Scotland's smallest bumblebees and one of the first to emerge in spring. Forms small, short-lived colonies. Males appear early in summer and the colony dies out by July.

Scotland's longest-tongued bumblebee, making it the only species able to pollinate deep flowers like foxglove, red clover, and honeysuckle. Has two yellow bands on the thorax.

A scarce and declining bumblebee in mainland Scotland but thriving on the machair of the Western Isles. All-ginger like the Common Carder Bee but paler and more uniform.

One of Scotland's rarest and most spectacular bumblebees. Almost entirely yellow with a small black band. Now confined to the northern tip of mainland Scotland and the islands.

Scotland's upland bumblebee specialist, found on heather moorland and blanket bog. Small with a short face and tongue, well-adapted to heather flowers.

One of Scotland's most recognisable solitary bees. Females are covered in dense tawny-orange fur and nest in lawns and paths, creating small volcano-like mounds of soil.

A common and important orchard pollinator. Females are ginger-furred and nest in hollow stems, holes in walls, and bee hotels. A single female can pollinate as many flowers as 120 honeybees.

One of Scotland's most numerous solitary bees, though rarely noticed due to its small size. Part of the sweat bee family, sometimes attracted to human perspiration for salts.

A late-season specialist that emerges just as heather comes into bloom. Nests in sandy soils on heathland, often in large aggregations. Almost entirely dependent on heather pollen.

Scotland's most familiar wasp. Builds paper nests underground or in roof spaces. Beneficial predators of pest insects in summer; become a nuisance in late summer when they seek sweet foods.

Very similar to the Common Wasp and equally abundant in Scotland. Often nests in roof spaces and wall cavities. Distinguished by three dots on the face rather than an anchor mark.

A relatively recent colonist of Scotland, expanding northwards from England. Builds exposed aerial nests in shrubs and trees rather than underground. Colonies are smaller than Common Wasp.

Scotland's largest social wasp. Queens are impressively large and can look alarming, but colonies are small and not aggressive. Builds aerial nests in trees and shrubs.

Britain's largest social wasp and a protected species in the UK. Despite their fearsome size, hornets are generally docile and rarely sting unless the nest is threatened. Nests in hollow trees and old buildings.

A solitary wasp that nests in dead wood and old timber. Females hunt hoverflies and other flies to provision their nest cells as food for larvae. Completely harmless to humans.

A remarkable solitary wasp that specialises in hunting honeybees. Females paralyse bees and bury them in sandy burrows as food for larvae. Rare in Scotland, mainly coastal.