Live Bumblebee Colony

A live colony of native British bumblebees (Bombus terristris audax), made up of a Queen, workers and eggs. On arrival the large hive contains 60–80 worker bees, and the population grows to far higher numbers as the season goes on.

Key Features

• Native British Bombus terristris audax colony with Queen, workers and eggs
• 60–80 worker bees at delivery, rising considerably over the season
• Comes with sugar water as a starting internal food source
• Housed in a self-contained box hive that needs no maintenance and is simple to position
• Colony lifespan of around 2–3 months, depending on the weather and conditions

Why Bumblebees Matter

Bumblebee numbers have collapsed over recent decades, and several native species are now at risk of extinction. These insects are vital to the wider ecosystem as pollinators of food crops and wildflowers, and make a significant contribution to biodiversity. Placing a live colony in your local environment, alongside existing gardens and ecological management areas, helps support their conservation and offset population losses.

How to Use

• Set the self-contained box hive in place; no maintenance is needed.
• As the colony follows a summer life cycle of roughly 2–3 months, order a fresh colony each year.
• Pair it with a Butterflies & Bees Wildflowers Mixture to help sustain your new bee population.

Applications

• Boosting biodiversity in wildlife areas at golf clubs and bowling clubs
• Any sports or recreation facility with areas set aside for ecological diversity
• Domestic gardens

Specifications

• Species: Bombus terristris audax (native British)
• Colony contents: Queen, workers and eggs
• Workers on delivery: 60–80
• Initial food source: sugar water
• Colony life: around 2–3 months
• Hive: self-contained box hive
• Model: Bumblebee Live Colony

Notes

The live colony is available from May through to July.