Name that bee!

Pop quiz! What kind of bee is this? A: Common Carder B: Buff-tailed Bumblebee C: Honey bee The answer is…D! Not a bee! This is a ‘Merodon equestris’, a species of hoverfly. Like many other hoverflies, it has evolved to look like a stinging insect as a defence mechanism. Isn’t nature fascinating?

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150709 What bee is this

Pop quiz! What kind of bee is this?

A: Common Carder
B: Buff-tailed Bumblebee
C: Honey bee

The answer is…D! Not a bee! This is a ‘Merodon equestris’, a species of hoverfly. Like many other hoverflies, it has evolved to look like a stinging insect as a defence mechanism.

Isn’t nature fascinating?

Royalty in the Gardens

The Hidden Gardens were visited by royalty this week! A Queen buff-tailed bumblebee dropped by to enjoy the mint border. Good to see her getting her hands dirty collecting pollen with the other bees!

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queen bee on the mint

The Hidden Gardens were visited by royalty this week! A Queen buff-tailed bumblebee dropped by to enjoy the mint border. Good to see her getting her hands dirty collecting pollen with the other bees!

Bee does not care about the eclipse

Sick of all the eclipse fuss? Join this bee! Whilst we were all squealing in the Gardens, he turned his back on the sun and got stuck into these crocuses. If you look closely, you can see how covered in pollen he is. Mr Bee! At 10 in the morning!

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Mr Bee (pictured) turning his back on the sun
Mr Bee (pictured) turning his back on the sun

Sick of all the eclipse fuss? Join this bee! Whilst we were all squealing in the Gardens, he turned his back on the sun and got stuck into these crocuses.

If you look closely, you can see how covered in pollen he is. Mr Bee! At 10 in the morning!