The bumblebee is possibly the most familiar flying insect in our gardens and we instantly recognise its little, squat, hairy, striped body as it buzzes busily from flower to flower. People tend to be especially wary of the bumblebee because of its large size and loud buzz, but this bee is far less aggressive than the honeybee and generally will not attack a human unless its life is under threat. The bumblebee is one of nature's hardest and most harmless workers and is beneficial to humans and plantsalike. Unfortunately the bumblebee is under threat from modern agricultural practices. The gentle, slow bumblebee is a distant cousin of the honeybee. Like the honeybee, the bumblebee feeds on nectar and gathers pollen to feed its young. Britain and Ireland have 25 native species of bumblebee; three native species have already become extinct and a further 15 are under pressure.
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