Bees fall within the Hymenoptera suborder Apocrita ('wasp-waisted' species), within the Aculeata (stinging species) sub-division, which they share with the non-parasitic wasps and ants. Those species are then separated into various taxonomic groups; the first of which are superfamilies. Bees and the closely related sphecid wasps are within superfamily Apoidea.

 

Unfortunately, classification from there varies as some systems adopt a single-family approach that is broken down into subfamilies, whereas others use the same groups but treat them as families. The BWARS (Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Scheme) utilise the six-family system, as shown below, as do most of the associated field guides such as the 'Bees of Great Britain and Ireland' by Steven Falk and 'Solitary Bees' by Ted Benton, consequently it makes sense to use the same system here.

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The British list recognises around 270 species of bee with the most well-known being the bumblebees of which there are 25 extant species, and the honeybee. They are the social bees that live in colonies. The remaining 240 or so species are solitary bees. Their life styles are varied, and although the majority collect pollen and build their own nests, just over 50 species (in various genera) are cleptoparasites.

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Clicking any of the photos below takes you to a brief 'species account' and further images that can be enlarged.