Three weeks into the beekeeping course (and I missed the last lesson as the yogis were here and needed feeding!) I am taking a great interest in flying bumble bees and honey bees.  I just came across what I think is a bumble bee and instead of running away from her I stopped to photograph her.

Mother Google tells me that honey bees are slender and more wasp like in appearance than bumble bees, which have are more rounded and hairy than the honey bee.  I have spent the last hour reading about the Varroa mite which has become endemic in UK hives and must be managed by the aspirant beekeeper.  Yikes!