BUMBLEBEES

Big, fuzzy and buzzy — bumblebees are the most well-known native bees to visit our gardens. They’re also the only bees native to North America that are truly social, living in a colony of 50-200 that consists of a queen and workers. Bumblebees’ insulating coat of hair helps them tolerate cooler weather, which also explains why they’re often the first bees we see foraging in spring and the last bees we see in fall.

Sadly, more than one quarter of North American bumblebees are facing some degree of extinction risk.^[1] In 2017, the rusty patched bumblebee was the first bee species in the continental U.S. to be listed as endangered. In 2018, conservation groups petitioned for endangered status of four bumblebee species native to California.^[2] A recent study also revealed the striking decline of bumblebees in Vermont which may warrant an endangered listing for three species.^[3]

BEE BIO

Identifying Features

Hefty bodies with yellow on the head, thorax and abdomen; females collect pollen on their hind legs as well as their hairy bodies.

Nesting Habit

Ground-nesting, often in abandoned rodent holes or other existing cavities.

Lifestyle

Social

Floral Diet

Generalist — they’ll forage a variety of plants for pollen and nectar.

Pollination Specialty

Tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, watermelons, potatoes and many wildflowers.

Unique Skill

Buzz pollination — bumblebees can unhinge their wings from their flight muscles and vibrate their bodies. For certain plants, this powerful vibrating action is the most effective way to release tightly-packed pollen.

Buzzworthy Fact

Only the new queens born at the end of the season hibernate underground through winter, after mating. In spring, they emerge to search for a new nest site and start a new colony.

Leafcutter Bees

Leaf-surfing, fuzzy-bellied and gentle-natured. That’s a leafcutter bee! This productive pollinator emerges in the summertime to visit our flowers and gardens. Megachile actually means “large lipped” and refers to their big jaws which come in handy for cutting out leaf segments for their nests. Let them use some of your leaves, and they’ll pollinate your garden in return.

BEE BIO

Identifying Features

Usually dark-colored and furry bodies, with pale stripes on abdomen; females have hairy bellies that collect pollen.

Nesting Habit

Cavity-nesting in existing holes.

Lifestyle

Solitary

Floral Diet

Generalists

Pollination Specialty

Melons, peas, sunflowers, alfalfa, milkweed and other summertime flowers.

Unique Skill

Neatly snipping leaf segments, then carrying the leaves back to line their nests.

Buzzworthy Fact

Leafcutters are bivoltine insects, meaning they can produce multiple generations in the same season. This happens when some of the eggs develop and emerge as adults in the same season they were laid. These second-generation bees will continue to mate and fill nesting holes with next year’s bees.

CARPENTER BEES

Gentle giants with a commanding presence, the largest native bees in the U.S. don’t go unnoticed thanks to their burly bodies and loud buzzing. Often misunderstood and underappreciated, these beneficial pollinators deserve our respect too!

BEE BIO

Identifying Features

Shiny, hairless and usually black abdomens.

Nesting Habit

Cavity-nesting in tree trunks, branches and other soft wood structures.

Lifestyle

Solitary — but unlike other solitary bees, the mothers do meet their offspring. They hibernate in winter as fully formed adults, huddled together inside their tunnels.

Floral Diet

Generalists

Pollination Specialty

Eggplant, tomatoes and other vegetables and native flowers.

Unique Skill

Buzz pollination — they can unhinge their wings from their flight muscles and vibrate their bodies. For certain plants, this powerful vibrating action is the most effective way to release tightly-packed pollen from their anthers.

Buzzworthy Fact

Male carpenter bees often hover near the nest entrance of females to keep other males and flying predators away. This territorial behavior appears intimidating, but males are all buzz and no sting — similar to all male bees, they don’t even have a stinger! Females, while equipped with a stinger, are generally docile unless directly provoked.