Bumblebee
Large, fluffy bees that are outstanding pollinators of tomatoes, beans, and early-season flowers. Their "buzz pollination" technique releases pollen that other insects cannot access.
Why you want them
Bumblebees are among the most valuable pollinators in temperate gardens. Unlike honeybees, they fly in cool, cloudy, and wet conditions, extending the pollination window significantly. Their buzz pollination - a vibration technique that shakes pollen loose from flowers - is essential for tomatoes, aubergines, and peppers, and cannot be replicated by any other pollinator. They nest in small colonies and their queens emerge early in spring, making them the first pollinators of the season.
How to attract them
- Foxglove
- Comfrey
- Borage
- Clover
- Lungwort
- Penstemon
- Wisteria
- Toadflax
Preferred habitat
Abandoned mouse holes, long grass tussocks, compost heaps, and the base of hedges. They nest underground or at ground level and need undisturbed areas to establish colonies.
What harms them
Insecticides, loss of rough grassland and hedgerow habitats, removal of early-spring flowers, tidy gardening practices that eliminate nest sites, and disease.
Garden, by Willowbottom works with nature, not against it. Support your garden allies and they will do most of the hard work for you.