There are few insects more important to us than the bee but, as Allan Wells explained in his fascinating talk to the Ross Wildlife Trust, that word covers about 250 species in the UK alone.

We are all familiar with the honey bee but most of the insects we see in our gardens are solitary bees which, as the name suggests, lay their eggs independently of others.

The bumble bees are, perhaps because of their furry coats, regarded with affection and even won a vote for Britain’s most popular animal. However, the queens in spring will fight to the death over preferred nest holes and, once established, rule by bullying and the use of pheromones.

These unique scents can work against them: cuckoo bee queens hang about outside bumble nests, absorbing the pheromones until they are accepted by the bumble workers. Having got into the nest the powerful cuckoo kills the queen and starts to lay her own eggs which are raised by the bumble workers.

We tend not to notice wasps early in summer because they are collecting insects to feed their larvae and the grubs exude a drop of syrup on which the adult wasps feed. Their tiny waists prevent them eating solids.

As autumn approaches the queen wasp stops laying, there are no grubs for the workers to get syrup from and so they pursue our sweet drinks and jam sandwiches and make holes in our fruit.

On January 7th at 7.30pm at Christ Church, Edde Cross Street, Elizabeth Croose will talk on The Return of the Polecats. All are welcome.