Where are all the bees and butterflies?

[Darker]

I am seeing many fewer than I’d expect, given the hot weather and lots of flowers.

Has anyone else noticed?

Barely any butterflies, a few bees but loads of moths and spiders in my garden

My garden has been full of bumble bees but hardly any honey bees. The Philadelphus was so full of them when it was in flower that you could hear the buzzing half way up the garden.

I do have lots of flowers that bees especially like, penstemon, dahlias, lavender, lots of salvias, nepeta, sweet peas to name just a few.

I have had butterflies, several of the brown variety not just the cabbage white ones, however, they are so quick I haven't been able to identify them. In number I think I've seen a butterfly only about six or seven times so far this summer.

South East and lots of butterflies in my garden the last few days. Less bees than usual but that’s because we often have buff tailed bumble bees nesting but don’t this year.

I saw three types of butterfly/dusk-active moth in my garden this year, having seen none for several years. The difference is that we have now replaced most of the grass in the lawn for low-growing native wildflowers (selfheal, black medic etc).

If you've the room, plant a lavatera, you'll have non-stop bees. Mine was swarming this spring/summer. I also laid my front and back lawns as clover and it was a carpet of bees come May. They now seem to nesting quite happily in an old extension flat roof.

Fair few butterflies about too, but again I think it's the plants.

I have loads of flowers. I garden for wildlife. But there don’t seem to be as many this year.

As others have said - bumble bees but not honey bees. A few cabbage whites. One bat.