Which wild bee is this? Identification guide and photos

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With 585 different species of wild bees in Germany, it's easy to lose track. The world of bees is huge, but with a little knowledge and experience you too can identify wild bees in your garden.

Basically, wild bees are divided into collective wild bees and solitary bees. There are also cuckoo bees, but we have not included them in this list for the time being. We also differentiate between pollen generalists and pollen specialists. In the fact sheets, you will quickly recognize the most important information about the respective wild bee species: how big they are, when they are active, where they occur, what they eat and where they nest.

From mason bees to wood bees and from bumblebees to sand bees: they all belong to the group of wild bees. With this identification guide and the individual profiles, you will be able to recognize the different wild bees in no time at all.

Wild bees identification guide and profile: The horned mason bee

Name Horned mason bee (Osmia cornuta)
Size ♀ 12–16 mm ♂ 10–13 mm
Flight time End of February to beginning of June
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized: Apple, pear, Christmas rose, willow, violet
Habitat Settlement areas, gardens, parks, forest edges
Nesting method Nests in existing cavities, cracks in walls, crevices, nesting aids

The horned mason bee is a frequent guest in urban areas and enjoys the abundance of early flowering plants in city gardens. For bee hotel builders, the horned mason bee is one of the first guests when it lays its first brood cells at the end of February or beginning of March. If no bee hotel is available, the horned mason bee is also very inventive and nests in garden hoses, door handles or garden furniture.

You can recognize the horned mason bee by its black head and thorax as well as its red abdomen. It has two curved horns on the flat head shield and the male has a white beard and white head hair.

Die unkomplizierte Gehörte Mauerbiene am Futtern. © Thomas B. auf Pixabay
Die unkomplizierte Gehörte Mauerbiene am Futtern. © Thomas B. auf Pixabay

Wild bees identification guide and profile: The red mason bee

Name Rostrote Mauerbiene (Osmia bicornis)
Size 8-12 mm
Flight time March to June
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized: No special preferences
Habitat Settlement areas, gardens, parks, forest edges
Nesting method Nests in existing cavities, cracks in walls, crevices, nesting aids

The rust-red mason bee is a true gymnastics pro and, thanks to its flexibility, can reach the most remote pollen sources, such as oak, beech and plantain. There are only a few flowers that it does not fly to, which guarantees it the best chances of survival. The red mason bee is also not picky when it comes to choosing a nesting site and will nest in pretty much any cavity it can find.

You can recognize the red mason bee by its mostly reddish-red abdomen; only the last segments have black hairs. The thorax of the rusty mason bee is light brown and the males have a lighter hairy face and longer antennae.

Hier die Rostrote Mauerbiene.
Hier die Rostrote Mauerbiene. © PollyDot auf Pixabay

Wild bees identification guide and profile: The garden leafcutter bee

Name Garden leafcutter bee (Megachile willughbiella)
Size ♀ 12-15 mm ♂ 13-14 mm
Flight time June to September
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized: Thick-leaved plants, bellflowers, composite plants
Habitat Forest edges, gardens, dry stone walls, parks, steep and loess walls
Nesting method Nests in cavities such as wall gaps, rock crevices, beetle feeding galleries in dead wood, nesting boxes

With the garden leafcutter bee, the name says it all: In a matter of seconds, the leafcutter bee cuts pieces of blossom from the flowers, rolls them up like a cigarette and then places its brood and provisions inside. As soon as everything is stowed away, it seals the ends with a kind of plant mortar and hides the pre-rolled bags in deadwood passages, wall gaps or nesting aids.

You can recognize the garden leafcutter bee by its yellow-brown hairy body, with a darker head and crown. The leafcutter bee's abdominal brushes are orange-red and its mandibles have four prongs.

Die Garten-Blattschneiderbiene bei der Arbeit.
Die Garten-Blattschneiderbiene bei der Arbeit. © Franco Patrizia auf Pixabay 

Wild bees identification guide and profile: The black wood bee

Name Schwarze Holzbiene (Xylocopa valga & Xylocopa violacea)
Size 20-28 mm
Flight time March to September or October
Occurrence Rare
Flower preference Unspecialized: Butterfly plants, composite plants, labiates
Habitat Warm areas, orchards, natural gardens, forest edges, vineyards
Nesting method Nests in dead wood and self-grown cavities in dry dead wood

The black wood bee is a very conspicuous wild bee, as it is relatively large and has black-blue wings. The wood bee likes it nice and warm and is more at home in the south of Germany. It loves dead wood for nesting, but is rarely satisfied with broad bamboo sticks.

You can recognize the black wood bee by its black head, thorax and antennae. The wings of the wood bee shimmer in a metallic black-blue. It is one of the largest native wild bees.

Die Schwarze Holzbiene mit ihren blau schimmernden Flügeln.
Die Schwarze Holzbiene mit ihren blau schimmernden Flügeln. © Radfotosonn auf Pixabay 

Identify wild bees and profile: The two-colored sand bee

Name Bicolored sand bee (Andrena bicolor)
Size ♀ 8–11 mm ♂ 8–10 mm
Flight time March to May and June to August
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized: Bluebells
Habitat Gardens, parks, forest edges and clearings
Nesting method Earth nests, but not specialized in any soil type

The bicolored sand bee is a very uncomplicated contemporary: it accepts different soils for nesting and also different habitats, which is why it is very widespread in Europe. It is also not picky when it comes to food and spreads a lot of pollen that sticks to its furry leg brushes.

You can recognize the bicoloured sand bee by the bright rust-red fur on the top of its thorax. Its head is black and its leg brushes have a rusty-yellow fur.

Eine Sandbiene versucht ihr Glück an einer Ginsterblüte
Eine Sandbiene versucht ihr Glück an einer Ginsterblüte © Thomas B. auf Pixabay 

Identify wild bees and profile: The rock bumblebee

Name Stone bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Size Worker: 12-16 mm / Drone: 14-16 mm
Flight time March to September (queen: March to May)
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspezialisiert: Wildpflanzen, Kräuter, Kulturpflanzen
Habitat Gardens, nutrient-poor meadows, roadsides, parks, forest edges
Nesting method Above and below ground nesting in caves, abandoned mouse holes, birdhouses, under piles of stones and wood

As the name suggests, the rock b umblebee likes to nest under piles of stones, but also uses abandoned mouse holes. Even though its coloration makes it fairly easy to identify, wild bee fans need to be careful, as there are eleven other bumblebee species that look very similar to the rock bumblebee.

You can recognize the rock bumblebee by its black and reddish-brown colouring. Most of its body is covered in black fur and its rump is rust-red. The male has additional yellow hair on his head.

Eine Steinhummel mit dem typischen rotbraunen Hinterteil.
Eine Steinhummel mit dem typischen rotbraunen Hinterteil. © kie-ker auf Pixabay 

Identify wild bees and profile: The field bumblebee

Name Field bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum)
Size Queen: 15-18 mm / worker: 9-15 mm / drone: 12-14 mm
Flight time March to November (queen: March to May)
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized: Wild plants, herbs, cultivated plants
Habitat Gardens, parks, forests and meadows
Nesting method Nests in mouse passages, bird nesting boxes, compost heaps, nesting aids

The field bumblebee is a true vegetable worker and ensures that tomato and potato plants are fertilized and that we humans have something to eat. It is one of the most common bumblebee species and flies until late in the fall. It is very flexible in its choice of nesting sites and will nest pretty much anywhere.

You can recognize the field bumblebee by its light brown thorax and black-grey abdomen with a reddish-brown terminal band.

Die Ackerhummel beim Nektar Schlemmen.
Die Ackerhummel beim Nektar Schlemmen. © Kathy Büscher auf Pixabay

Identify wild bees and profile: The common hopper bee

Name Gewöhnliche Löcherbiene (Osmia Heriades truncorum)
Size 6–8 mm
Flight time June to October
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Specialized: Compositae
Habitat Gardens, parks, forest edges and woodlands
Nesting method Nistet in vorhandenen Hohlräumen, Käferfraßgänge in Totholz, hohle Stängel, Nisthilfen

The small common sting bees have become permanent guests in some bee hotels. In many places, it only takes a few days for the sting bees to start making themselves at home in the bee hotel and seal their brood cells with resin. Hole bees are then particularly happy about nearby wild plants, such as geis, chicory or chamomile.

You can recognize the common sting bee by its small body size and the fact that it is almost completely black. All in all, the common stoner bee is less hairy, but has a relatively large head.

Die winzig kleine Gewöhnliche Löcherbiene.
Die winzig kleine Gewöhnliche Löcherbiene. © kie-ker auf Pixabay 

Identify wild bees and profile: The bellflower scissor bee

Name Glockenblumen-Scherenbiene (Osmia Chelostoma rapunculi)
Size 8–10 mm
Flight time June to August
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Strictly specialized: Bluebells
Habitat Gardens, forest edges, settlement areas
Nesting method Nistet in vorhandenen Hohlräumen, Pflanzenstängel, Käferfraßgänge, Nisthilfen

The bluebell scissor bee is strictly specialized and only flies to bluebells. Even though it is a little picky when it comes to foraging, it sometimes turns a blind eye when choosing a nesting site and sometimes even settles in nesting aids. With a bit of luck, you may spot this scissor bee taking a nap in a bluebell flower.

You can recognize the bluebell scissor bee by its black head and thorax, which are less hairy in females. Overall, it is very slender and males have a conspicuously curved abdomen.

Die seltengewordene Glockenblumen-Scherenbiene.
Die seltengewordene Glockenblumen-Scherenbiene. © Martin Andersson / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Identification of wild bees and profile: The Knautia sand bee

Name Knautien-Sandbiene
Size 13–16 mm
Flight time May to August
Occurrence Very rare
Flower preference Specialized: Card plants such as meadow or forest knotweed
Habitat Warm locations, dry fat and rough pastures, forest edges, flood embankments, road embankments
Nesting method Nistet in vorhandenen Hohlräumen, Käferfraßgänge in Totholz, hohle Stängel, Nisthilfen

The Knautia sand bee is not very experimental when it comes to food, as it only flies on widow flowers. As there have been fewer and fewer widow flowers in recent years, the population of the Knautia sand bee has also declined. This sand bee is one of the victims of insect extinction and is on the Red List and classified as endangered.

You can recognize the Knautia sand bee by its black head and thorax, with the rear part sometimes having red segments and black dots on the sides. However, the Knautia sand bee is sometimes also completely black. The head has whitish hairs and the hind legs are also densely covered with fur.

Die Knautien-Sandbiene in Aktion.
Die Knautien-Sandbiene in Aktion. © NobbiP / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

Identify wild bees and profile: The dark ground bumblebee

Name Dunkle Erdhummel (Bombus terrestris)
Size 11–17 mm
Flight time February to May
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Parks, gardens, meadows, forest edges
Nesting method Bumblebee colony with up to 600 bumblebees

You are guaranteed to have seen the dark ground bumblebee before! Bombus terrestris is the most common ground bumblebee in our latitudes. One reason for this is that it is a particularly industrious bee: from dawn to dusk, the dark ground bumblebee collects nectar - every day.

You can recognize the dark bumblebee by two golden yellow stripes on a black background and a white abdomen.

Die Dunkle Erdhummel
Die Dunkle Erdhummel © Franco Patrizia auf Pixabay

Identify wild bees and profile: Fox-red curly sand bee

Name Fuchsrote Lockensandbiene (Adrena fulva)
Size 9–13 mm
Flight time March to May
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Parks, gardens, forests
Nesting method Sometimes in larger colonies in earth nests

The red fox bee loves natural gardens and unpaved, sandy soils, where it also nests. These wild bees have a real sweet tooth and love currants and gooseberries.

The fox red curly sand bee is super easy to recognize: It has fox-red fur on its back and its underside and legs are deep black.

Die Fuchsrote Lockensandbiene
Die Fuchsrote Lockensandbiene © Pauln, CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)

Identify wild bees and profile: The spring fur bee

Name Frühlings-Pelzbiene (Anthophora plumipes)
Size 14–15 mm
Flight time March to June
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Dry stone walls, steep walls, sand pits
Nesting method Burrows, steep walls, nesting aids

The spring fur bee is always under stress - at least that's what you might think when you see it buzzing around frantically. Spring fur bees stay on a flower for a maximum of 1 to 2 seconds before they fly (or bee) again.

You can recognize male spring fur bees by their rusty-brown colouring and yellow face and females by their grey-brown hairs and rust-red leg brush.

Die Frühlings-Pelzbiene gönnt sich einen Snack.
Die Frühlings-Pelzbiene gönnt sich einen Snack © Franco Patrizia auf Pixabay

Identify wild bees and profile: The western honey bee

Name Westliche Honigbiene (Apis mellifera)
Size 11–16 mm
Flight time March to October
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Nesting boxes, tree hollows and rock caves
Nesting method Bee colony with up to 50,000 workers

Admittedly: The honey bee is not a wild bee, but it still made it onto our list - simply because it is so great. In Europe, the honey bee is the third most important farm animal after cattle and pigs. However, farmers are not only after their honey: 80 percent of all crops and 40 percent of all foodstuffs are pollinated by honey bees.

You can recognize the western honeybee by its uniform black-brown colouring. Their chest and torso are usually slightly furry.

Die Honigbiene ist zwar keine Wildbiene, aber dennoch wichtig.
Die Honigbiene ist zwar keine Wildbiene, aber dennoch wichtig ©Congerdesign auf Pixabay

Identify wild bees and profile: The mason masked bee

Name Mauer-Maskenbiene (Hylaeus hyalinatus)
Size 5–6 mm
Flight time May to September
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Gardens, forest edges, sand pits, fallow land
Nesting method Nests in existing cavities, crevices, dead wood and hollow plant stems

The mason masked bee is easy to identify, but very difficult to spot - after all, the little wild bee is only half a centimeter long! You can recognize the mason masked bee by its small black body and the large mask on its face. With a little imagination, the mason masked bee looks like a mini Zorro. The males have a strikingly large white-yellowish mask, while the females have a more discreet mask.

Externally, the different species of masked bees hardly differ from each other, which makes it relatively difficult to tell them apart. However, some species are specialized on certain flowers, which makes identification somewhat easier.

Wildbienen bestimmen und Steckbrief: Die Mauer-Maskenbiene
Die Mauer-Maskenbiene ist sehr klein und hat eine weiß-gelbliche Maske ©Annette Meyer auf Pixabay

Identify wild bees and profile: The tree bumblebee

Name Baumhummel (Bombus hypnorum)
Size 8–18 mm
Flight time March to August
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Bumblebee boxes, tree hollows, old bird nests, dead wood
Nesting method Bumblebee colonies with up to 400 bumblebees nest in cavities

The tree bumblebee is sometimes a real bitch: it is the only stinging bumblebee species. Warm weather and thunderstorms put the tree bumblebee in a particularly bad mood. You can tell when the tree bumblebee (or the tree bumblebee colony) is buzzing really loudly. You'd better watch out here!

You can recognize the tree bumblebee by its brown chest and black abdomen with a white terminal segment. The tree bumblebee also has a relatively short proboscis, which means that it prefers to visit open flowers.

Wildbienen bestimmen und Steckbrief: Die Baumhummel
Die Baumhummel kann manchmal etwas zickig sein © Léon McGregor auf Unsplash

Identify wild bees and profile: The garden bumblebee

Name Gartenhummel (Bombus hortorum)
Size 11–26 mm
Flight time March to August
Occurrence Rare
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Bumblebee boxes, mouse holes, bird nests, barns
Nesting method Colony size 50 to 150 bumblebees

The garden bumblebee is a very relaxed contemporary with a really long proboscis. It spends most of its time in parks, gardens or meadows, where it diligently pollinates flowers with long calyx tubes. Its long proboscis enables it to reach nectar, which is inaccessible to many other wild bees. The garden bumblebee also takes a cozy approach to nesting and nests in existing cavities such as mouse holes, bird's nests or bumblebee boxes.

The garden bumblebee is easily confused with the dark ground bumblebee, but there are a few distinguishing features. In contrast to the earth bumblebee, the garden bumblebee has a much longer proboscis (approx. 15 mm) and an elongated head. Its butt is white and it has three yellow stripes on its abdomen. The queens grow up to 26 mm in size and are therefore much larger than the workers and drones.

Wie erkenne ich eine Gartenhummel? Bestimmungshilfe und äußere Merkmale
Eine Gartenhummel am Lavendel

Identify wild bees and profile: The yellow-legged furrow bee

Name Gelbbindige Furchenbiene (Halictus scabiosae)
Size 12–15 mm
Flight time March to October
Occurrence Frequently
Flower preference Unspecialized
Habitat Warm, dry locations with little vegetation
Nesting method Nests in self-dug earth nests in eusocial colonies

This wild bee likes it really hot - and for this reason it could even benefit from climate change. The yellow-legged furrow bee originally comes from the Mediterranean region, but has migrated further and further north over the last 20 years. In the 1990s, it was almost only found in Baden-Württemberg, but thanks to rising temperatures, the yellow-ringed bee is now even at home in Schleswig-Holstein.

The yellow-banded furrow bee is easy to identify (unlike other species of furrow bee): Halictus scabiosae is between 12 and 15 millimeters in size and its head and thorax are black with ochre-yellow hairs. If you look very closely, you can see a vertical furrow on the abdomen of the wild bee. The females have ochre-yellow bands on their thorax, each of which is bordered by a light brown band. The males have whitish bands and almost completely yellow hind legs. In addition, the male furrow bees are much slimmer than the females and have a much narrower head.

Ein Weibchen der Gelbbindigen Furchenbiene
Ein Weibchen der Gelbbindigen Furchenbiene auf einer Blüte © Bianca Gümpel/Pixabay

Identify wild bees and profile: The brown-bristled trouser bee

Name Braunbürstige Hosenbiene (Dasypoda hirtipes)
Size 12–15 mm
Flight time Mid-June to the end of September
Occurrence Regionally endangered
Flower preference Specialized in composite plants (e.g. bittercress, chicory, pigweed)
Habitat Sand pits
Nesting method Self-dug cavities in the sand

In the brown-rumped trouser bee, the females wear the pants - in the truest sense of the word! The females of Dasypoda hirtipes have bushy hairs on their legs that look like baggy pants. With these "pants", the wild bees can transport pollen super efficiently to provide their offspring with food.

You can recognize the females of the brown-rumped trouser bee by their unmistakable "pants", which soak up pollen and nectar. The females of the trouser bee grow to around 15 millimetres in size, the males are somewhat smaller. The thorax of the breeches bee is black with thin white bands. Its head and thoracic segment are, like the legs, heavily hairy. To distinguish Dasypoda hirtipes from other species of trouser bee, you must observe the wild bee while it is feeding. If it flies to composite plants such as chicory, then it is most likely a brown-bristled trouser bee.

Die Hosenbiene nistet im sandigen Boden.
Die Hosenbiene nistet im sandigen Boden © Pixabay

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