AN urban bumblebee from France has spread rapidly through the UK because of its preference for built-up areas, research has shown.

Scientists believe the tree bumblebee, Bombus hypnorum, could become an important fruit pollinator while posing no threat to native bee populations.

The tree bumblebee is widespread throughout Europe and Asia but made its first appearance in the New Forest in 2001, probably arriving from northern France.

Since then it has spread to nearly all parts of England and Wales, as well as southern Scotland.

Unusually, the insect likes to build its nests above ground, seeking out holes in walls as well as trees. They are also known to nest in empty bird boxes.

Experts believe this is why it has made itself so at home in densely populated Britain's towns and villages.

In a study of 42 rural and urban sites in Norfolk, tree bumblebees were most likely to be spotted in built-up areas, and to a lesser extent locations close to woodland.

None of the other five bumblebee species investigated shared the same habitat preferences.

Lead researcher Liam Crowther, from the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences, said: ''This research implies that the tree bumblebee's remarkable success is due in part to favouring a suite of resources different to those used by the bumblebee species that are already widespread in the UK.

''While an association with human habitation has been suspected for some time, this study provides clear evidence of this link and suggests that urban and suburban areas may be facilitating the tree bumblebee's remarkably rapid natural colonisation of the UK.''

The research team recorded flower visits by different bumblebee species at each site between March and June 2012.

As well as making a bee-line for urban areas, B. hypnorum also foraged on plants different from the ones favoured by other bumblebee species.

They were more likely to visit species of flowering trees and thistles and to ignore common herbaceous flowers.

This could make them useful to fruit tree farmers, the researchers believe. At a time when bees generally are in decline, fruit crops are especially at risk from falling pollinator numbers.

The scientists wrote in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE: ''B. hypnorum may become an important pollinator of tree fruit crops, although further research would be required to determine the efficiency with which it pollinates such crops.''

Because of its different tastes the tree bumblebee is unlikely to be a competitive threat to native bumblebees, they said.