Superbloom Pollinators

Bombus lucorum
Common name: White-Tailed Bumblebee

The white-tailed bumblebee is a black-and-yellow bee with a bright white tail. They are very common and can be found nesting in gardens, woods and farmlands all over the UK. They are social bees, living in colonies, where worker bees help support the colony and a single queen bee. Bumblebees collect nectar and pollen from flowers to feed the baby bumblebees. 

Eucera longicornis
Common name: Long-Horned Bee

The male long-horned bee has unmistakably long antennae and is one of around 250 species of solitary bee in the UK. Sadly, this species has declined significantly across the UK and can be found along the south coast of England and Wales. Their preferred habitat is coastal grasslands and woodlands, and they feed on a variety of plants like bramble, clover, and comfrey.

Aglais io
Common name: Peacock Butterfly

The peacock butterfly has beautiful red wings with an ‘eye-like’ pattern that resembles a peacock’s tail feather and is one of the most best-known species in Britain. It can be spotted all year round and loves to feed from the nectar of many flowers in your garden. What this butterfly loves most is a patch of nettles for their caterpillars to live and grow.

Vanessa cardui
Common name: Painted Lady Butterfly

The painted lady butterfly travels each summer all the way to the UK from North Africa and Southern Europe in search of food for their caterpillars to eat. In some years they can arrive to the UK in their millions! This spectacle can be seen near the coast, and you can spot these butterflies all over the UK. 

Vanessa atalanta
Common name: Red Admiral Butterfly

The large black-and-red wings makes the red admiral butterfly an unmistakable visitor to your garden. Found in a variety of habitats across the UK, from towns to seashores, and even mountains, the red admiral is classed as a migratory butterfly. However, it has been known to spend the winter in the UK and has done so increasingly in recent years.

Pieris napi
Common name: Green-Veined White Butterfly

The green-veined white is a small white butterfly with veins on the underside of the wing often dusted green. It is often most abundant nearer to damp areas such as riverbanks, lakes, and garden ponds. This is because the plants that its caterpillars like to eat often grow best in these areas, including wild cabbage plants.

Cetonia aurata
Common name: Rose Chafer Beetle

Spot the rose chafer beetle crawling among garden flowers with its striking metallic copper-green body that shimmers in the sunshine. They are easy to spot as they crawl along garden flowers and woodland edges on summer days. The adults feed on flowers, such as dog roses, during the summer and autumn and the larvae feed on decaying plants for several years.

Vespula vulgaris
Common name: Common Wasp

It might be a surprise to know that wasps are important pollinators and natural pest controllers that support our eco-system. Easily identified by their black and yellow stripes and characteristic markings on its face, they live in groups and builds nests made from paper by chewing up wood. They feed on high energy foods, like nectar from plants and sugar from rotting fruit.

Syrphus ribesii
Common name: Common Banded Hoverfly

Did you know that there are more than 270 species of hoverfly in the UK? Living up to its name, the common banded hoverfly has a black body with bright yellow bands and creates a humming noise by vibrating when resting. It’s very common and can be found in your garden, along hedgerows and in woodlands. An excellent pollinator, the adults feed on the nectar of flowers.