Around 600 different species of wild bee live in Switzerland. They also make an important and valuable contribution to the pollination of wild and cultivated plants. Their fascinating spectrum of colors ranges from bright metallic green, blue and red nuances to black and the well-known yellow-black pattern.

Unlike the colony-forming honey bees, wild bees live either as parasitic species or as solitary and hermit bees, which take care of nest building and food supplies alone and without any division of labour.

Today, wild bee species are critically endangered for a number of very different reasons, including monoculture and the intensive use of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides in agriculture. The erection of wild bee dwellings and a diverse, natural world of flowers and plants help the wild bees to survive.