Scotland's Bees: 27 Species Including Rare Mountain & Heath Specialists

Scotland hosts **27 native bee species**—a mix of **1 honeybee, ~20 bumblebees, and ~6 solitary bees**. The cool, wet, windy climate and northern latitude filter out many southern European species, but create strongholds for cold-adapted specialists.

The Complete List (Current Taxonomy)

Honeybee (1)

• Apis mellifera (European Honeybee) – Managed hives; feral colonies rare (Varroa). Native *A. m. mellifera* (Dark Bee) reintroduction efforts underway.

Bumblebees (Bombus) – ~20 Species (Social, Annual Colonies)

• Common/Widespread: B. terrestris (Buff-tailed), B. lucorum (White-tailed), B. pratorum (Early), B. pascuorum (Common Carder), B. hortorum (Garden), B. lapidarius (Red-tailed).
• Northern/Scottish Specialists: B. monticola (Bilberry/Mountain Bumblebee – **upland moors**), B. jonellus (Heath Bumblebee – **heaths/bogs**), B. muscorum (Moss Carder – **machair/coastal grassland**), B. distinguendus (Great Yellow Bumblebee – **RARE, N. Scotland machair**), B. sylvarum (Shrill Carder – **RARE, S. Scotland only**).
• Recent Colonist: B. hypnorum (Tree Bumblebee – arrived 2013, spreading fast).
• Cuckoo Bumblebees (Social Parasites): B. vestalis, B. bohemicus, B. rupestris, B. campestris, B. barbutellus (infiltrate host nests).

Solitary Bees (~6+ Species / Groups)

• Mason Bees (Osmia): O. bicornis (Red Mason – common, nest in holes), O. cornuta (Horned Mason – recent arrival, south).
• Mining Bees (Andrena): Several spp. (e.g., A. clarkella – early, willows). Ground nesters.
• Furrow Bees (Halictus / Lasioglossum): Small, often metallic, ground nesters.
• Yellow-faced Bees (Hylaeus): Tiny, stem-nesting, no pollen baskets.
• Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae): **Autumn specialist on Ivy.** Recent northward spread (reached S. Scotland ~2020).
• Nomad Bees (Nomada): Cleptoparasites (wasp-like) on Andrena.

Conservation Note

**Habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, and honeybee competition** threaten specialists like **Great Yellow (B. distinguendus)** and **Shrill Carder (B. sylvarum)**. **Scottish Natural Heritage (NatureScot)** and **Bumblebee Conservation Trust** run monitoring (BeeWalk) and habitat restoration (machair, species-rich grassland, hedgerows).