Attract Bees - Attract Bumblebees - Bumblebee - garden bumble bee

What to look for: These bees have long faces, white tails, yellow-black-yellow thoraxes and a single yellow stripe across their abdomen

Favourite plants: Clover, cowslips, foxglove, vetches, lavender and other wildflowers

Making a nest: Nest in colonies underground and in holes or bird boxes

When active: Spring to autumn

When seen: Across the UK

Garden bumblebee

Garden bumblebees are common across the UK. They have distinctive, long faces that hold a long tongue that's used to reach the nectar at the bottom of deep florets.

Queens, males and the all-female workers are very similar in colour. All have white tails, yellow-black-yellow thoraxes and a single yellow stripe across their abdomens

Clover, cowslips, foxglove, vetches, lavender and other wildflowers are their favourite sources of nectar. Nesting colonies will be established close to these plants. Often nests are made in natural holes underground or in trees, or, more increasingly, in bird boxes.