HONEYBEES, BUMBLEBEES, AND WILD BEES THE GARDENS FRIEND

HONEYBEE GATHERING NECTAR IN CHIVES

Copyright © 2025-2035 by Simone Chamberlin & Blake Reichert, Wild West Succulents, All rights reserved

ESTIMATED READ TIME: 6 MINUTES

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Meet honey bees, bumblebees, wild bees and find out why they are important for your garden!

INTRODUCTION

Bees are some of the most important insects on the planet.

They help pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables, making sure plants can grow and produce food.

They are many different types of bees, but three of the most common are honey bees, bumblebees, and wild bees.

Even though they might seem similar, they have different appearances, behaviors and homes.

Some people see bees as a problem because they can sting, but they actually play a huge role in nature.

Let’s explore what makes each type of bee unique and why they matter and why conservation is important to every garden!

WHAT WE’LL COVER

• INTRODUCTION
• WHAT WE’LL COVER
• WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• GOOD BEES FOR YOUR GARDEN
• BUMBLEBEES
• WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:
• WHAT’S THEIR BEHAVIOR:
• WHERE THEY LIVE:
• WHY THEY’RE A PROBLEM:
• FOR INFORMATION ON TYPES OF BUMBLEBEES FROM THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION
• AMERICAN BUMBLEBEE-Bombus pennsylvanicus
• CROTCH’S BUMBLEBEE-Bombus crotchii
• FRANKLIN’S BUMBLEBEE-Bombus franklini
• MORRISON BUMBLEBEE-Bombus morrisoni
• OBSCURE BUMBLEBEE-Bombus caliginosus
• RUSTY PATCHED BUMBLEBEE-Bombus affinis
• SOUTHERN PLANTS BUMBLEBEE-Bombus fraternus
• VARIABLE CUCKOO BUMBLEBEE-Bombus variabilis
• WESTERN BUMBLEBEE-Bombus occidentalis
• YELLOW BANDED BUMBLEBEE-Bombus terricola
• YELLOW BUMBLEBEE-Bombus fervidus
• WILD BEES ALSO CALLED SOLITARY BEES
• WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:
• WHAT’S THEIR BEHAVIOR:
• WHERE THEY LIVE:
• WHY THEY’RE A PROBLEM:
• HONEY BEES
• WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:
• WHAT’S THEIR BEHAVIOR:
• WHERE THEY LIVE:
• WHY THEY’RE A PROBLEM:
• CONCLUSION
• SOURCES
• FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GOOD BEES
• BUMBLEBEES
• FROM WIKIPEDIA, BUMBLEBEE
• USDA, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, BUMBLEBEES (BOMBUS SPP)
• USDA, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, BUMBLEBEES (BOMBUS SPP)
• WILDBEES
• THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION, WILD BEE CONSERVATION
• RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, 25 FACTS ABOUT AMERICAN WILD BEES
• HONEY BEES
• FROM WIKIPEDIA, HONEY BEE
• USGS, ARE HONEY BEES NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA?
• AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
• JOIN US TODAY!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• BUMBLEBEES
• WILD BEES
• HONEY BEES

GOOD BEES FOR YOUR GARDEN

BUMBLEBEES

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

• BUMBLEBEES ARE BIG AND ROUND, ABOUT 1 INCH LONG
• THEY ARE EXTRA FUZZY WITH BLACK AND YELLOW STRIPES
• THEIR WINGS MAKE A BUZZING SOUND WHEN THEY FLY

WHAT’S THEIR BEHAVIOR:

• BUMBLEBEES ARE SOCIAL, BUT THEIR COLONIES ARE SMALLER THAN HONEY BEES
• THEY DON’T MAKE HONEY LIKE HONEY BEES, BUT THEY ARE GREAT POLLINATORS
• THEY CAN STING MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT USUALLY DON’T UNLESS PROVOKED

WHERE THEY LIVE:

• BUMBLEBEES BUILD NESTS IN HOLES IN THE GROUND, UNDER DESKS, OR IN COMPOST PILES
• THEIR NESTS ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN HONEY BEE HIVES

WHY THEY’RE A PROBLEM:

• THEY USUALLY AREN’T AGGRESSIVE, BUT THEY MIGHT STING IF THEIR NEST IS DISTURBED
• THEIR NESTS CAN SOMETIMES BE TOO CLOSE TO HOUSE OR PLAYGROUNDS

FOR INFORMATION ON TYPES OF BUMBLE BEES FROM THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION

AMERICAN BUMBLEBEE-Bombus pennsylvanicus

CROTCH’S BUMBLEBEE-Bombus crotchii

FRANKLIN’S BUMBLEBEE-Bombus franklini

MORRISON BUMBLEBEE-Bombus morrisoni

OBSCURE BUMBLEBEE-Bombus caliginosus

RUSTY PATCHED BUMBLEBEE-Bombus affinis

SOUTHERN PLANTS BUMBLEBEE-Bombus fraternus

VARIABLE CUCKOO BUMBLEBEE-Bombus variabilis

WESTERN BUMBLEBEE-Bombus occidentalis

YELLOW BANDED BUMBLEBEE-Bombus terricola

YELLOW BUMBLEBEE-Bombus fervidus

WILD BEES ALSO CALLED SOLITARY BEES

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

• WILD BEES COME IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES
• SOME ARE TINY, AND SOME ARE COLORFUL!
• SOME LOOK LIKE SMALL HONEY BEES, WHILE OTHERS LOOK METALLIC GREEN OR BLUE
• THEY USUALLY DON’T HAVE STRIPES LIKE HONEY BEES AND BUMBLEBEES

WHAT’S THEIR BEHAVIOR:

• WILD BEES ARE SOLITARY, MEANING THEY LIVE ALONE INSTEAD OF IN BIG COLONIES
• THEY ARE SUPER IMPORTANT POLLINATORS AND HELP PLANTS GROW
• THEY RARELY STING BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE A HIVE TO DEFEND

WHERE THEY LIVE:

• WILD BEES NEST IN SMALL HOLES IN THE GROUND, IN WOOD, OR IN HOLLOW PLANT STEMS
• SOME WILD BEES, LIKE MASON BEES, LIVE IN TINY MUD OR WOOD TUNNELS

WHY THEY’RE A PROBLEM:

• THEY AREN’T A PROBLEM!
• IN FACT, THEY ARE GREAT FOR GARDENERS!
• SOME WILD BEES MIGHT MAKE NESTS IN CRACKS OF HOUSES, BUT THEY DON’T CAUSE HARM

HONEY BEES

WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE:

• SMALL, ABOUT HALF AND INCH LONG
• THEIR BODIES ARE FUZZY AND HAVE GOLDEN-BROWN AND BLACK STRIPES
• THEIR LEGS HAVE POLLEN BASKETS WHERE THEY CARRY POLLEN

WHAT’S THEIR BEHAVIOR:

• HONEY BEES ARE SOCIAL AND LIVE IN HUGE COLONIES WITH THOUSANDS OF BEES
• THEY COLLECT NECTAR AND POLLEN TO MAKE HONEY
• THEY COMMUNICATE BY DANCING TO TELL EACH OTHER WHERE FOOD IS!
• THEY ONLY STING ONCE AND THEN DIE

WHERE THEY LIVE:

• HONEY BEES LIKE LIVING IN HIVES MADE OF WAX
• BEEKEEPERS RAISE THEM IN MAN-MADE HIVES, BUT WILD HONEY BEES BUILD NESTS IN HOLLOW TREES OR INSIDE WALLS

WHY THEY’RE A PROBLEM:

• THEY CAN STING IF THEY FEEL THREATENED
• THEY CAN MAKE A HIVE INSIDE A HOUSE AND CAN BE HARD TO REMOVE
• SOME PEOPLE ARE ALLERGIC TO THEIR STINGS

CONCLUSION

Even though bees can sometimes be annoying or even a little scary, they are incredibly important to the environment.

Honey bees make delicious honey, bumblebees are strong pollinators, and wild bees help keep gardens and farms healthy.

While they can sting, most bees only do so when they feel threatened.

Instead of fearing bees, we should learn to appreciate them for the important work they do.

Please join me to save our bees!

SOURCES

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GOOD BEES

BUMBLEBEES

FROM WIKIPEDIA, BUMBLEBEE

USDA, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, BUMBLEBEES (BOMBUS SPP)

USDA, U.S. FOREST SERVICE, BUMBLEBEES (BOMBUS SPP)

WILD BEES

THE XERCES SOCIETY FOR INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION, WILD BEE CONSERVATION

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, 25 FACTS ABOUT AMERICAN WILD BEES

HONEYBEES

FROM WIKIPEDIA, HONEY BEE

USGS, ARE HONEY BEES NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA?

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