Get a buzz out of bees

To celebrate World Bee Day on May 20, we asked author Ben Hoareall all about these busy and important insects

- DAISY FOX

A lot more than most people think! As well as the honeybee, there are 24 species of bumblebee bumbling around Britain.

How many species of bee are there in the UK?

A lot more than most people think! As well as the honeybee, there are 24 species of bumblebee bumbling around Britain. There are 250 other species of bee buzzing about too, including a bright red one and another that’s black and white, like a giant panda!

Why don't we see bees in the winter?

Bees don’t like to be cold and wet, so a British winter doesn’t suit them. In fact, they hate it. So, some bees enter a deep sleep, a bit like hibernating, until spring comes.

Other bees survive the winter as eggs or caterpillar-like larvae, then hatch as new buzzy bees in spring.