The Solitary Bees

If you like what we do please consider supporting us on Patreon. / teamcandiru
90% of Britain's bees are Solitary Bees. They are crucial pollinators, yet are little known or conserved. This film aims to change that.
This film showcases the fascinating behaviour and value of the UK's solitary bees. We follow a variety of different species through their struggles to find resources, avoid death and create new life.
Ideal for anyone who loves our bees and nature!
Our main aim is for this film to not only entertain, but to be used as a free educational resource. If you would like to use The Solitary Bees in an educational setting, please contact Team Candiru for a free HD download.
We have had the support of the National Trust, Natural England, Buglife, Environmental Justice Foundation, Nurturing-Nature, Campaign for the Solitary Bees, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, Natural History Network, Wildlife Film-News, Bristol Zoo Gardens and Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project and a huge thank you goes out to them for their advice and help with access and sponsorship.

[@Tymdek]

A very important thing to not here: Many solitary bee species are highly specialized in what plants they collect pollen from. Numerous species of bee will only collect pollen from one or a few closely related species of plant, which is why it is crucial for bee conservation to protect the plants the bees need. In short: If the right plants aren't there, you can build as many "bee hotels" as you want, you'll only help a handful of more generalist bees. EDIT: Spelling

[@MarkSKChan]

who needs natural geo when u got team candiru

[@TeamCandiru]

+mark chan Thanks! :)

[@wodkaspirit]

As a young teenager making nature documentaries and filming insects was my life goal. This footage makes me warm for it again, thanks

[@emiledarraghbarry]

You're a strange person. Only joking. Do it!

[@pistonpkm]

This is a fascinating film. The relaxing soundtrack matches the noble life style of these little bees quite well.

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jackdare]

@Shady Queens LOL.. that's sad! Not sure for who, you or bf.. both i guess?

[@jackdare]

@Shady Queens If you're happy & satisfied, cool. Just seemed like you were complaining or making fun of your bf ;) To answer your question.. a lot longer than a bee! 😂 But seriously it all depends, there are many variables. So anywhere from less than a minute to all night..

[@briseboy]

@Shady Queens I think you two need to discover what a Candiru is, as you both appear to be obsessed with something similar to its behavior..

[@Randomnumber11]

💐🌹🌹🌷🌷🌺🌷🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️🌬️☃️☃️🏔️🏔️🐈🐈🐈🐈🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝😃😭😭😭😭😭💖💖💖💖

[@ibstrd]

This needs a follow up where the family of red mason bees go on a hunt for the monster spider that killed their mother.

[@simasturbo5348]

Mason Bees 2: Legacy of Revenge

[@fm4660]

The only monster is a human

[@rigz5112]

Revenge is a waste of energy.

[@ibstrd]

@@rigz5112 Revenge is sweet and not fattening.

[@d6wave]

it's cleaning, not revenge. rigz

[@squashyskyler]

I have never commented on a KZbin video despite over a decade of watching videos. I’ve found this to be the purest and most worthy one.

[@joakimpeterpan5683]

WOW! Breathtakingly beautiful work! Well done. but why only 8789 views? Seriously?

[@TeamCandiru]

Joakim Peter Pan we're doing a lot better on vimeo.

[@martyhopkirk72]

This film actually made me cry...very emotional. Many thanks

[@kaykhinezin1274]

After watching Man vs Bee

[@ms.muffin7592]

I can't even begin to explain how amazing this is, AWSOME imagery, great music, and actually teaching me something I've never heard anyone else talk about. Just thank you so much for making a great little documentary, and hope to see more like it in the future.

[@ouravantgarde]

love your pfp!

[@massimosquecco203]

I m already 55 years old but I've never heard of solitary bees. Thanks a lot for the information that I'll certainly investigate further. I truly love to learn about simple, everyday facts of life that I 've never have a clue before.

[@join4te]

Man vs Bee made me come here. Haha. Hehe.

[@oxex2]

😹😹 حتا انا

[@MandolinSashaank]

Me too

[@ogeman4923]

Sus

[@GrimLock0027]

LOL

[@hoanghungle3413]

Man VS Bee :))))

[@bavdarkstar]

Anyone else from Man vs Bee on Netflix?

[@Woodyjims-shack]

As someone who is into macro photography I cant believe how you got some of this footage. Stunning work with a great message to heighten awareness. Very well done 👍

[@TechOutAdam]

I just took photos of a Wool Carder Bee this morning on my Mugworth. It was asleep on a flower and is buzzing around right now as I type this. I love this bee. My buddy in the morning when I water.

[@donmba]

We are all here after Man vs. Bee 🐝

[@jclarkson3865]

Yes indeed 👍

[@WalkaboutLad]

Absolutely stunning video on a fantastic subject 😊

[@TeamCandiru]

+WalkaboutLad Thanks! And thanks for sharing it!

[@murkygreysmoke]

4:53 bro couldn’t wait to hit up that fresh bee skizzy

[@emilylewis6326]

Awwh this is great. I'm studying environmental sciences at the UEA and have fallen in love with solitary bees in the last few months :) will forward this to the sustainability team :)

[@TeamCandiru]

+Emily Lewis Thanks! Just so you know this is a free educational resource. So if you or anyone you know wants a copy of the film to use for educational purposes please just let us know!

[@emilylewis6326]

Brilliant I'll keep that in mind! Thank you

[@knq1]

RIP my mafakin red mason bee

[@briseboy]

Oh, come now, you must have loved that "warm welcome."

[@cavevenom6893]

You create such good videos the cuts of the cells of the bees are magical

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks! If you like our films do please consider subscribing! We have more in the pipeline!

[@cavevenom6893]

I have subscribed, and I am excited for the new ones you have in store for us. I know that they will be exceedingly excellent. Keep on doing what you're doing! :)

[@bubhoward8642]

+Cave Venom. they are and will keep being good

[@yurishizu20]

me sipping coffee, admiring these bees working hard on their nests. *the spiders entered the scene* **NOOOOOOOOOO**

[@malaverse]

Man vs Bee 😂

[@m3d.official]

Yup 😂😂

[@ElsweyrDiego]

This was the most beautiful thing i ever watched on youtube. You deserve way more views and praise. Your job on this video is just AMAZING, so much emotions in so many forms just watching these little things.. it's magical!

[@TeamCandiru]

+Diego Weber Thanks! That's very encouraging!

[@TealeBritstra]

Nice to see some love for the solitary bees of the world. Here in Australia we have 1500+ species, and I think the average person on the street would be hard pressed naming two. :-(

[@TeamCandiru]

That EXACTLY why we made this film! :) Its the same here in the UK! No one realises just how many there are out there.Thanks for watching.

[@arher9598]

@@TeamCandiru Could you cover the topic of the danger of human raised honey bees to wild solitary ones? Also a plus if the honey bees are imported species like European honeybees and the impact to native solitary bees. I saw some articles human raised ones often to develop more stress and wing diseases from the hives. Then human practicing to bring those hives from states to states fulfilling client's request on pollinating service. But those practices results in stress from moving a lot of places and risk of spreading/catching disease. Wild solitary bees are the most vulnerable ones catching this disease via sharing the flowers. And human favor and give more attention to honey bees more than solitary ones

[@ashar9940]

Man vs Bee😂

[@midnitethedsixl4601]

That was a very relaxing documentary, completed by the gentle soothing voice of the narrator

[@jackdare]

4:10 Poor honeybee.. it wasn't trying to 'be' a home invader! * I made a pun :D

[@jclarkson3865]

Rowan Atkinson is a legend 👍

[@LiamJohnson247]

Man vs Bee brought me here 😂

[@Chakki_7]

🤣🤣🤣

[@davidb5205]

What a beautifully shot video. The narrator's voice is so soothing too.

[@AstyleMadness]

This video deserves much more credit. Simply amazing!!

[@alexandrubeta2751]

Here because of Man vs Bee 😄

[@raltommo]

Breathtaking images. Wonderful video on a fascinating subject. Keep up the good work !

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rabbitgamerofficial]

It is like a bed time story. Loving it.

[@AhadH]

This video is going to get a boost within coming days cuz of Man vs Bee. 😂

[@ezranian]

this is very emotionally intense for a video about bees

[@FRC-Saturn]

Man vs Bee💀💀

[@brianhernandez9750]

5:50 Bug: WTF Bee: ME TAKE NOW BUG: NAH BRUH COME GET THESE ANTENNAS

[@JoshRyanWood]

Excellent Sound Design

[@Edisonyhn]

I used to be scared of these large honeybee-like insects. Now I love them. Thank you for the great work and efforts of this video.

[@chandramanishukla9342]

I watched the whole thing so effortlessly. Really engaging, involved, and professionally produced!

[@goldenlacquer5744]

Just by your word choice and music choice.... well, I never thought I'd cry from an educational bee video. Kudos to the narrator too, he's got a great voice and I hope he's in every future video.

[@TeamCandiru]

oh he certainly is! Thanks for watching!

[@goldenlacquer5744]

Team Candiru No, thank you .

[@mitchl5220]

This documentary is so well done I want more

[@MysteryD]

This is one of the best videos I have ever seen on KZbin.

[@DeskJet1]

What an absolutely beautiful documentary

[@ayyoush2]

Who's here because of the man vs bee???

[@m3d.official]

Me 😂

[@wildlifenet]

What an Amazing short film, wonderful information about our pollinators!

[@shadowsruss5748]

Aren't they magnificent creatures? Thanks for a super video.

[@HeathifyMyLife]

I even feel more enthusiasm to build a nest for the solitary bees soon 🐝 💙 #thankyou

[@timael.]

Man vs bee 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@rebeccajosteelman563]

Fabulous video, very educational. Thank you very much. In recent days, I've been trying to get a photo of a camera shy solitary bee who has showed up after a honey bee was last month, to keep helping pollinate my garden vegetables. With research, she is looking to be either an Andrena, or an Osmia specie. Yesterday I caught sight of the friend flying along the overhead beams for suitable hole to build a nest.

[@yonosepe7491]

i randomly arrived to this video it was great to watch i thoroughly enjoyed it

[@TeamCandiru]

Yono Sepe cool! Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

[@davy1458]

He was out there taking care of beesness.....hooking up with the bee-yatches!!

[@collinmackey2391]

This was INCREDIBLY done, what a beautiful world we have.

[@vanitas5908]

Searched it up for Man vs bee..

[@billgade7975]

But the channel name is not Bee videos

[@vanitas5908]

@@billgade7975 ikno..

[@christopher32074]

@@billgade7975 Except it doesn’t exist online

[@lienevirbicka670]

Such a beautiful story, music and camera work. I was moved, thank you.🦋❤️🦋

[@MunchyMallow]

Bees are amazing creatures. Would love to create a bee hotel for solitary bees in the future.

[@darealzpimp]

Makes you think a lot about life and how much instinct drives a large portion of life on the planet.

[@Jetjai]

This is a fantastically informative film on Solitary Bees, I fist saw it on the Vimeo platform and am pleased you have released it on KZbin which should help it reach even more people, which is important because I feel most people only know a little bit about Honey Bees and Bumblebees and don't realise the importance of Solitary Bees as very important pollinators. Thank you for making such a lovely detailed film and I'm really looking forward to more films from Team Candiru.

[@TeamCandiru]

+Jetjai Thanks! We have a few projects in the pipeline just now so do make sure you follow us on twitter and facebook for regular updates!

[@tdl487]

This is too pure! Thank you for making this. Solitary bees don't get nowhere near as much recognition as honey bees. When most people here in the states want to take up bees for their gardens and farms, they go for European honey bees because of familiarity and wanting honey out of it(even if they don't use it themselves or sell it). They completely overlook any native bee options which is really sad because they're just as and even more productive as honey bees, yet easier to manage and some species don't even sting! My own father in law wanted to get honey bees but he isn't in the best health to take care of a farm or bees so it would have fallen on my husband and I(I'm deathly allergic btw). It took some serious convincing, plus a literal "I could die and their numbers are too high for our property area to manage without incident" talk to get him to understand that it wasn't the brightest idea. Tried to then tell him to go for an Mason bee species(non aggressive and females are less likely to sting unless provoked) but now he doesn't want to do it at all because, his exact words: "What's the point of getting bees if I get no honey out of it?"🙄 He's diabetic and I've never seen him eat honey in the near ten years I've been with my husband...

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks for watching! Yeah people in North America keeping honey bees is a source of annoyance to us... Like they are actually an invasive species. If it makes you feel any better your father in law almost certainly has a variety of solitary bees already living on his property already that he doesn't know about. They are pretty prolific.

[@leasa1567]

That crab spider just killed the bee why tf am i crying

[@capicuaaa]

So beautiful and moving. Bees really are such hard workers. I have even more respect for them after watching this beautiful film.

[@anonthe-third2367]

You somehow make the British countryside even more beautiful

[@JB-wo5pe]

I keep rewatching this. This is beautiful.

[@Bearry_da-Bernese]

Nice, straightforward, packed with information. I love it. ❤🐝🌻

[@edge-bees]

wonderful film!! amazing shots, great music, and calm narration. this video is seriously underrated and deserves more recognition!

[@poisonhemlock]

Those time-lapses! Wow!

[@midenarithmos9200]

The production quality of this video is astounding. The flow of the video, the music accompanying it and the high quality footage is something a TV studios would've make. I'm glad KZbin recommended Me one of video Your video, this deserve a lot more attention.

[@BeeUndercover]

The best solitary bee video on KZbin! For sure! :)))) So the bee mom knows the sex of her eggs as she lays the male eggs closest to the entrance?

[@lindawinn2568]

I love this video. Stunning photography and so informative. Ive been reading and watching so much about solitary bees but this video is a joy to watch and I shall do so more than once or twice. Thank you. 🙏 🐝 🐝🌸🌸

[@jacobbolado1853]

Great, a bee documentary made me cry

[@freebite]

You guys certainly deserve more views, and subscribers. Despite the currently low video count, these are amazing, and I certainly hope that this channel takes off like it really ought to.

[@amgames5638]

5:49 "Ah, welcome home, master!"

[@gebhardmichel8939]

Danke für diesen lehrreichen und schönen Film.

[@stephaniesue5551]

This was a beautiful video. I will look at bees with a new found view and appreciation.

[@Forever_Rayne]

I was looking for a video on leaf cutting bees when I found this video. So well made and informative. Always grateful for bees and their hardwork! 🐝

[@songworks17]

Well done. Great video. Love the audio work.

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@mickeythemaltipoo3756]

I'm listening to it on headphones and I had to pause couple times thinking it was a bug in my headphone, Nice touch great video

[@fvckinfool101]

The narrator's accent is really a nice touch. Idk why but it is.

[@littlebirdsword]

I only just heard about solitary bees for the first time. This is maybe the best indie nature documentary I've ever seen. I love bees

[@stemanimations6836]

Thank you for this great documentary. I love all of your videos. You make them all engaging and I have learnt a lot from you. Thank Team Candiru for your beautiful videos. I liked and subbed as soon as I started watching your documentaries. They are really great. I have no words for how great they are. Right now all I can say is thank you for it.

[@stemanimations6836]

Btw great music, and photography and script. All three fitted perfectly

[@anameofsomesort959]

I was wondering who was cutting those holes in my rose bush's leaves.

[@NectareX]

This is absolutely beautiful. I appreciate this video so much, thank you! You have a new subscriber

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks! Tell your friends!

[@vanilla8101]

Stunning documentary and lovely voice!

[@javierpucheu6150]

I find so adorable the bee checking her hotel room, she looks so cozy

[@sonyana7197]

Great video. I'll provide a bee guest house 🏠 for them in my garden. They deserved it as i always harvest my fruits and veggies, thanks to them.

[@madman2541]

Lol I didn’t want the video to end!! Well done, I fully enjoyed that! Please keep these sort of videos coming!

[@WyclifMurungi]

This was so well done and truly deserves much more attention that this. The story telling is just awesome. Thank you guys!

[@atreides213]

Dude, your videos are so awesome, unbelievably well produced and informative. Your lack of notoriety is almost criminal.

[@Chwill76]

From the perspective of a freelance cinematographer and sound engineer, I can’t stress how much time this probably took to create

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks! We were actually really proud of that.

[@wowabilaty]

@Team Candiru This is a film of its own class! Deserves so much more notice, I learnt so much more about bees! I never knew there was such thing as the solitary bee. Please keep up the amazing work, I look forward to seeing more of you videos!

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks! We're trying to make one right now about solitary wasps. But its much harder!!! Wasps are way more tricky to film than bees!

[@wowabilaty]

I expect so wasps have a mean streak, I look forward to seeing it though, always want to learn more about the overlooked insects!

[@user-qc7fn1yc4m]

Man Vs Bee

[@aravindkudla6731]

Very nice documentary on solitary bees... Thank you

[@xXJem05]

This was so beautifully done I learnt so much, bees are magical 🐝🌼

[@TeamCandiru]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marghay13]

Amazing filming. Just completed my degree project on solitary bees!

[@Lui_Chu]

Aw bees are so cute! I love bees.

[@TanukiBuki]

I love how the wool carders do little jazz hands when they're done screwing

[@Torthrodhel]

Very awesome, bees are so special and adorable! So great to learn about solitary bees. :D

[@filipepinto5966]

Just amazing! This has just inspired me even further to follow this area of study for my dissertation on urban pollinators! just amazing!