Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita)

OTHER NAMES: Rubytail Wasp

Latin Etymology: Chrysis ("gold") ignita ("flaming")

Adult Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita - unknown subspecies ) at Poltesco, Cornwall - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 4-13mm / Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

I've seen this species described as either Wasp or a Solitary Bee, though really the taxonomy of Apocrita - the suborder containing wasps, bees and ants is more complicated than one would initially think.  There are a large number of species that go by the name Ruby-tailed Wasp, but this seems to be the most well known of those species.  They are a parasitic species which lay their eggs in the nests of various wasps and bees - after hatching they feed on the eggs and larvae of their host species before pupating and then either

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Chrysididae
Genus: Chrysis
SUBSPECIES: C. i. bischoffi, C. i. clarinicollis, C. i. cypriaca, C. i. ignita, C. i. impressa, C. i. melaensis, C. i. schencki

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A local resident

 - Seen at Poltesco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List,  RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

OTHER NAMES: Common Carder Bumblebee

Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzz") pascuorum ("of the pasture")

Adult Common Carder Bee (subspecies B. p. flavidus) at Geddington, Northants - August 2011

Featured Subspecies: Bombus pascuorum flavidus
Length: 13mm (worker) 15-18mm (queen)
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The common carder bee is a widespread species of bumblebee found in Europe.    They feed on a wide selection of plants including clovers, thistles, nettles, fruit trees and various others.  They live colonially in nests which rise up to 60-150 bees, which die back after each year, leaving only the newly hatched females to survive to the next year.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: B. p. flavidus, B. p. floralis, B. p. septentrionalis, B. p. vulgo

 - Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident seen in Summer.

 - Seen at Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea)

OTHER NAMES: European Carpenter Bee, Carpenter Bee

Latin Etymology: Xylocopa ("Woodcutter") violacea ("violet")

Adult Violet Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa violacea) at El Pardo, Spain - April 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Length: 25mm  /  Wingspan: 65mm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The violet carpenter bee is one of the largest bee species of Europe - dwarfing the species found regularly in the UK.  It is named for it's big iridescant wings which make it a very distinctive species.  A common resident in Spain, it is also beginning to become established in the UK.  The carpenter bee family is also notable for having the largest eggs of any insect, although the violet carpenter bee is not the largest.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Xylocopa
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Abejorro Carpintero Europeo ("European Carpenter Bumblebee")

Common to locally abundant resident

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Common at Patones

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Fairly common throughout, particularly noted at El Pardo

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Andrena ("hornet/wasp") fulva ("tawny")

Adult Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) at Geddington, Northants - April 2017

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 8-12mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Data Deficient

A small sand bee species immediately recognisable by it's beautiful copper coloured back.  This species digs nests into the ground where they lay their eggs, and fills with nectar and pollen, giving it's larvae a food source enough to grow into maturity, where they emerge the following spring.  An entirely European species, the bulk of their range is in North-West Europe, but they are also found in areas in the Balkans and Iberian Penninsula.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Andrenidae
Genus: Andrena
SUBSPECIES: unclear

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Description

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum)

OTHER NAMES: New Garden Bumblebee
Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzzing") hypnorum (?)

Adult Tree Bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) at Geddington, Northants - June 2018

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 11mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Tree Bumblebee is a widely ranging species found across continental Eurasia, that is currently expanding it's range - it was first sighted in the UK in 2001, and has now spread across the country and is a fairly common species.  What's more, it's range is increasing still, also establishing itself in Iceland.  They often nest near human settlements, as buildings provide the kind of nesting cavities they like.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: unclear

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A resident currently expanding it's range.

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)

OTHER NAMES: Small Garden Bumblebee
Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzzing") hortorum ("garden")

Adult Garden Bumblebee (subspecies B. h. hortorum) at Geddington, Northants - April 2018

Featured Subspecies: Bombus hortorum hortorum
Weight: ?  /  Length: 19-22mm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common and widespread species of bumblebee found across the UK, it is identified by it's white tail, long face and yellow section that crosses from abdomen to thorax.  This is very similar to Bombus ruderatus, the Large Garden Bumblebee, and are apparently very difficult to separate in the field, but as this is the commoner species of the two, I have gone with this for now.  It is globally widely spread, covering Europe into Asia, with introduced populations in Florida and New Zealand. 

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: B. h. hortorum, B. h. ivernicus, others?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident.

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

OTHER NAMES: European Honey Bee

Latin Etymology: Apis ("bee") mellifera ("honey")

Adult Western Honey Bee (subspecies A. m. mellifera) at Geddington Chase, Northants - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: Apis mellifera mellifera
Length: 10-15mm  /  Wingspan: 18mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Data Deficient

The Honey Bee is probably one of the most widely known species of insect in the Europe, and just about the only one that is raised on any major commercial scale thanks to it's honey and wax.  A highly colonial species, they have suffered badly in recent years and are in steep decline - much of which is attributed to pesticides and parasites.  They are nonetheless still common visitors to gardens, in mine they seem to particularly favour lavender.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Apis
Subspecies: A. m. mellifera, A. m. arteisisa, A. m. carnica, A. m. cecropia, A. m. iberiensis, A. m. ligustica, A. m. macedonica, A. m. madaros, A. m. madaros, A. m. rutterneri, A. m. siciliana, A. m. siciliana, A. m. sossimai, A. m. adami, A. m. anataloiaca, A. m. caucasia, A. m. cyperia, A. m. meda, remipes, A.m syriaca, A. m. adansonii, A. m. capensis, A. m. intermissa, A. m. jemeniticia, A. m. lamarckii, A. m. litorea, A. m. monticola, A. m. sahariensis, A. m. scutellata, A. m. unicolor

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

OTHER NAMES: Large Earth Bumblebee

Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzz") terrestris ("of the earth")

Adult Buff-tailed Bumblebee (subspecies B. t. audax) at Geddington Chase, Northants - June 2011

Featured Subspecies: Bombus terrestris audax
Length: 20-22mm  /  Wingspan: 22-34mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The Buff-tailed Bumble-bee is one of the most common species of Bee in the UK - and thus probably one of the most widely seen insects.  It can be identified from similar insects by the exact combination of colour rings, taking particular note in this case of the yellow that fringes the white tip of the tail.  In my garden this species seems to mostly prefer lavender and buddleiah

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Subspecies: B. t. africanus, B. t. audax, B. t. calabricus, B. t. canariensis, B. t. dalmatinus, B. t. lusitanicus, B. t. sassaricus, B. t. terrestris, B. t. xanthopus

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)

OTHER NAMES: Stone Bumble Bee

Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzz") lapidarius ("of the crags")

Adult Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) at Geddington Chase, Northants - July 2010

Featured Subspecies: ?
Length: 11-22mm  /  Wingspan: 18mm
NOT EVALUATED IN UK / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

One of the most common species of Bumblebee in both Britain and Europe, it is fairly distinctive although there are a few similar species in its range.  They nest in rocks and walls, and their preferred flower plants are clover and deadnettle, but thistle, buddleia and lavender also seem to be common plants to find them on.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
Subspecies: Unknown

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common resident species which is seen in Summer

 - Seen in Geddington and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Bombus ("buzzing") lucorum ("clean")

Adult White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) at Geddington, Northants - June 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 0.46-0.7g  /  Length: 11-20mm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The White-tailed Bumblebee is a widely distributed species which is found from Spring through to Autumn.  They are identifiable by the clean white rump, and the broad yellow bands found on some individuals.  Unfortunately, it is believed to be declining.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Bombus
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly widespread resident.

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Nomada ("wandering") goodeniana ("Gooden's)

Adult female Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) at Geddington, Northants - June 2019

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

Another species of Cuckoo-Bee, this time a little more easily identifiable than my previous example of the genus.  This species is also a brood parasite of Mining Bees, and therefore it's population is tied to theirs.  The species Nomada rufipes is apparently a possible confusion species with this one, but can be apparently firmly identified because the second yellow band on the abdomen is unbroken.

Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Nomada
SUBSPECIES: ?

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident of the Southern half of the UK

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Flavous Nomad Bee (Nomada flava)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Nomada ("wandering") flava ("yellow")

Adult Flavous Nomad Bee (Nomada flava) at Geddington, Northants - May 2011

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 12mm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

Although at initial inspection, the species of the genus Nomada may resemble wasps, they are in fact Cuckoo Bees.  They are kleptoparasites - laying their eggs in the nests of other species, in this case specifically mining bees of the genus andrena.  The offspring then emerge in April to repeat the cycle.  The species Nomada panzeri can resemble this one somehow, and needs microscope analysis to separate, but on balance this species seemed more probable.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Genus: Nomada
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident of the Southern hald of the UK

 - Seen at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

European Hornet (Vespa crabro)

OTHER NAMES: Hornet
Latin Etymology: Vespa ("wasp") crabro ("hornet")

Queen European Hornet (subspecies Vespa crabro vexator) at Geddington, Northants - May 2019

Featured Subspecies: Vespa crabro vexator
Weight: 450mg  /  Length: 25-35mm  /  Wingspan: ?
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

The European Hornet is a large wasp native to Europe and introduced to North America - while scarcer than more common wasp species it is found fairly commonly around woodland edges, particularly in Autumn to tie in with fruit growth in my experience.  They have a sting, but do not usually seem as agressive as other smaller species of wasp.  They construct large elaborate papery nests in which they reproduce.

Related Species:
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Vespa
SUBSPECIES: V. c. altaica, V. c. borealis, V. c. caspica, V. c. chinensis, V. c. crabroniformis, V. c. crabro, V. c. flavofasciata, V. c. germana, V. c. oberthuri, V. c. vexator

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly common resident

 - Seen at Geddington among other locations. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

German Wasp (Vespula germanica)

OTHER NAMES: Yellowjacket, European Wasp, Wasp
Latin Etymology: Vespula ("small wasp") germanica ("of Germany")

 

German Wasp (Vespula germanica) at Geddington, Northants, UK - October 2026

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 74mg  /  Length: 13mm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A highly familiar species in Europe known for its tendency to be attracted to human food and the potential for a painful sting if you attempt to intercede. They are a colonial insect, wth nests of other 17000 individuals recorded, though in the UK, 8000 is more typical.
 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Vespula
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM 

A common resident

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Executioner Paper Wasp (Polistes carnifex)

OTHER NAMES: Executioner Wasp
Latin Etymology: Polistes ("city builder") carnifex ("executioner")

Executioner Paper Wasp (Polistes carnifex) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Polistes carnifex carnifex
Weight: ?  /  Length: 3cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A widespread nest building wasp found across Central and South America, which they create using wood fibres they harvest using their powerful jaw. They prefer coastal, humid and open areas.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Genus: Polistes
SUBSPECIES: P. c. carnifex, P. c. boliviensis, P. c. rufipennis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Lasius ("hairy") flavus ("yellow")

Yellow Meadow Ant (Lasius flavus) at Geddington, Northants, UK - September 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 2-4mm (workers) 7-9mm (Queen)  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A common species that resides under grasslands such as meadows and lawns where they feed on honeydew produced by root aphids. They are found across Eurasia and North Africa but remain largely subterranean when they can, making them less observable.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Lasius
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM 

A widespread resident 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Southern Wood Ant (Formica rufa)

OTHER NAMES: Red Wood Ant, Horse Ant
Latin Etymology: Formica ("ant") rufa ("red")

 

Southern Wood Ant (Formica rufa) at Wyre Forest, UK - May 2023

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 4.5-9mm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The largest ant species in the UK, and found from Europe to Lake Baikal and possibly beyond. They form dense colonies in forests, creating dome shaped mounds in open areas, with colonies reaching potential sizes of 400,000 workers. They primarily feed on aphid honeydew but will also predate other invertibrates. They are known to collect resin from conifer trees to reinforce their nests as well as hygiene benefits.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Formica
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM 

A local species - seen in Wyre Forest, Worcestershire

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Ivy Cellophane Bee (Colletes hederae)

OTHER NAMES: Ivy Bee
Latin Etymology: Colletes ("plasterer") hederae ("ivy")

Ivy Cellophane Bee (Colletes hederae) at Geddington, Northants, UK - September 2026

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: 13mm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A common species of Europe which emerges in Autumn to feed upon ivy flowers. They are a solitary bee species and so nest in loose sandy soils, and are only active until the beginning of November, at which point only the larvae remain to emerge again the following year. They have a bold, black and white striped abdomen more remeniscent of a wasp than of a bee.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Colletidae
Genus: Colletes
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - 

 - Seen in Geddington

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum calceatum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Lasioglossum ("wool tongue") calceatum ("with shoes")

 

Common Furrow Bee (Lasioglossum calceatum) at Geddington, Northants, UK - April 2026

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: ?  /  Length: ?  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A widely distributed species across Eurasia, it is unusual in that in its southern range it is eusocial while in more northern populations it is solitary. They visit a variety of flowers for nectar.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Halictidae
Genus: Lasioglossum
SUBSPECIES: ?
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A fairly widespread resident.

 - Seen in Geddington 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Shimmering Golden Sugar Ant (Camponotus sericeiventris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Camponotus ("bend back") sericeiventris

 

Shimmering Golden Sugar Ant (Camponotus sericeiventris) at Alajuela. Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: g/kg  /  Length: 15-16.5mm (worker) 17-19mm (Queen)  /  Wingspan: 35mm (Queen)
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated 

A large, distinctively golden species of ant found from the Texas border to Southern Brazil. They make their nests inside trees. They are suject to a "zombie ant fungus" Ophiocordyceps unilateralis although are generally considered disease resistant due to self-grooming.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Genus: Camponotus
SUBSPECIES: C. s. holmgreni, C. s. otoquensis, C. s. pontifex, C. s. Rex, C. s. satrapus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 

A common resident.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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