How to identify pollinating insects
Garden plants help support a range of pollinating insects. Use this spotter guide to identify those that visit your garden or a local green space.
Learning objectives:
- Explore how pollination works and the role of different insects in supporting plant life and biodiversity
- Observe and identify unique features of pollinating insects and how these help them survive
- Understand the importance of protecting pollinators and learn ways to support them in their local environment
Curriculum links:
- Science: Living things and habitats, plant reproduction, ecosystems, and species classification
- Environmental Science: Conservation, biodiversity, and human impacts
- Geography: Local biodiversity, fieldwork, and sustainability
- PSHE: Environmental responsibility and sustainability
Key vocabulary
Common pollinators
Bumblebee
With 24 species in the UK, different bumblebees can be identified by the colours and patterns on their tails, legs, and antennae. How many can you spot?
Honeybee
Honeybees are busy, social insects that live in hives and are the only creature to make honey. Their numbers are declining, so planting nectar-rich flowers can help them thrive.
Solitary Bee
Over 250 solitary bee species live in the UK! They buzz around in spring and summer, then hibernate in cocoons in plant stems, walls, or bee hotels during winter.
Drone Fly
Often mistaken for honeybees, drone flies have no stinger and only one pair of wings. They’re busy from March to December, helping to pollinate crops like strawberries and carrots.
Wasp
Wasps are top pollinators for fruit trees and great at controlling garden pests like greenfly. They’re more helpful than you might think!
Marmalade Hoverfly
This small hoverfly loves flat flowers for feasting on nectar and pollen. Amazingly, up to 4 billion hoverflies migrate to the UK every year!
Ladybird
Ladybirds, with their red backs and black spots, help pollinate flowers and eat pesky aphids. Plant kale, daisies, or yarrow to invite them into your garden.
Longhorn Beetle
These striking beetles live in hedgerows and woodlands from May to August, pollinating flowers like thistles and brambles.
Soldier Beetle
There are 40 species of soldier beetles in the UK. They love tall flowers like cow parsley and fennel and can often be found in bushes, meadows and the edges of forests.
Swollen-Thighed Beetle
Known for their shiny green bodies and bulging thighs, these beetles thrive on sunny days and are drawn to brambles, daisies, and cow parsley.
Peacock Butterfly
Peacock butterflies have bold ‘eye’ patterns to scare predators. They feed on nectar from flowers like thistles, dandelions, and bluebells and collect pollen on their hairy bodies.
Red Admiral Butterfly
Red admirals, with their red, black, and white wings, visit gardens all year-round. They love buddleia and ivy, and their caterpillars snack on nettles.