Bumblebees

 

Size  ¾” –  1”
Body  Large, fuzzy, and yellow
Legs  6
Antennae  Yes
Stinger  Queen and female workers do, but males do not. It is smooth and can be used more than once

Habitat:

  • Prefer to nest in the ground with the entire, large colony using a single hole for entrance
  • They can nest in soffits or attics as well and are often seen around decks or patios

Habits:

  • Males do not have a stinger but they will chase intruders as they defend their nests
  • They are often clumsy-looking as they fly
  • The stinger on the females is smooth and is very painful
  • One of the best pollinators

Check out their Habits and Habitat here.

Carpenter Bees

 

Size  Large, ½ ” –  1”
Color  Mostly black with white or yellow face (males)
Body  Shiny, hairless abdomen
Legs  6 with yellowish hairs
Antennae  Yes
Stinger Females have a stinger, but males do not

 

Habitat:

  • Excavated tunnels in soft, untreated or weathered wood
  • Enter into tunnels through round holes bored into the wood

Habits:

  • They do not live in nests and colonies, instead hibernate in nest tunnels in winter
  • Not really aggressive unless provoked
  • Males appear aggressive, but do not have stingers
  • Solitary, unlike other bees

Check out their Habits and Habitat here.

 

Honeybees

 

Size  1/2″
Color  Golden brown and black thorax with orange or yellow bands on the abdomen
Body  Fuzzy thorax with a shiny, striped abdomen
Legs  6
Antennae  Yes
Stinger  Female workers have a barbed stinger

 

Habitat:

  • Hollow spaces that allow them to build the internal hive
  • Each colony has one queen, hundreds of male drones, and thousands of female worker bees

Habits:

  • Only sting when provoked, but are otherwise not aggressive
  • Each worker is able to pollinate 50-100 flowers on each trip
  • The communicate through scent and dancing
  • The colony lays dormant during the winter

Check out their Habits and Habitat here.

 

Miner Bees

 

Size ½” – 2/3”
Color Black head with red-orange thorax and abdomen
Body Small, stout and furry
Legs 6, black, furry
Antennae Yes
Stinger Yes, but very small

 

Habitat

  • Individual burrows in the ground that look like ant hills
  • Soft or sandy soils preferred for tunneling

Habits

  • Not social, live in individual holes in the ground
  • Not aggressive, but can sting if provoked

Check out their Habits and Habitat here.