Common Bees in Michigan

Julianna Tuell, Rufus IsaacsAnna Fiedler, Doug Landis

Department of Entomology, Michigan State University

Why Are Bees Important?

• Pollination in natural habitats – 80% of flowering plants require insects to transfer pollen in

order to produce seeds.– Many insect-pollinated plants provide food for wildlife (e.g.

berries).

Why Are Bees Important?

• Pollination of 87 leading food and fiber crops

• honey bees• bumble bees• carpenter bees• mason and

leafcutter bees• sweat bees• digger bees

Major Bee Groups in the Eastern US

honey bee

carpenter bee

bumble bee

leafcutter bee

sweat bee digger bee

• Native to Europe.• First used for honey and wax production.• Now most important bee in crop pollination

because they are readily managed.• Feral colonies have been decimated by

diseases and mites.• Commercial beekeepers also have a

difficult time with diseases and mites.• Not the most efficient pollinator of every

crop.• Can be inhibited by cooler weather.• Fortunately, many other kinds of bees can

help pollinate crops.

Honey bees (Apidae)

Apis mellifera

Bumble bees (Apidae)

• Medium (workers and drones) to large (queens) yellow or white and black.

• A single queen produces a colony of workers.

• Nest in abandoned rodent burrows or other cavities in the ground.

• Commercially produced colonies now available.

• Feed on many different flowers.Bombus spp.

Carpenter bees (Apidae)

• Two distinct types:– large (often mistaken for bumble bee

queens). – Small (metallic blue).

• Most females are solitary, building and provisioning their own nests (no workers are produced).

• Nest in wood or pithy stems. • Feed on many different flowers.

Xylocopa virginiana

Ceratina sp.Photo: J. Evans

Mason bees (Megachilidae)

• Small to medium, bluish metallic or black with white hair on thorax, with dense abdominal hairs for carrying pollen.

• Solitary, but often nesting in aggregations.

• In nature, nesting in galleries made by beetles in wood or pithy stems; will readily nest in man-made straws.

• Separate and cap off nest cells with mud.

Osmia lignariaOrchard Mason Bee

Photo: S. Bambara

Leafcutter bees (Megachilidae)

• Medium, black, often with a striped abdomen on which they collect pollen.

• Solitary, nesting in aggregations.

• Nest in galleries made by beetles in wood or pithy stems; will readily nest in man-made straws.

• Cut leaf sections from soft-leafed plants to make nests.

Megachile spp.

leaf capsule in hollowed

twig

Digger bees (Andrenidae and Apidae)

• Small to large bees with very hairy hind legs.

• Solitary, nest in soil.• Usually one generation

produced per season.• May visit many different

flowers, or will collect pollen from only a few related plant species.

Andrena spp.

Sweat bees (Halictidae)

• Three size/color groups:– Medium-sized, brown, with or

without stripes– Small to medium, metallic green– Small bronze/golden metallic

• Solitary and social species.• Some produce several

generations per season.• Most nest in soil; some in soft

wood.• Visit many different flowers.

Halictus sp. Lasioglossum sp.

Agapostemon spp.

What do native bees need?

• flowers for nectar and pollen

• nesting habitat• pesticide-free environment

Flowering Resources

• nectar, floral oils• pollen

Nesting Resources

nest made in burrownest made in sloping soilnest entrance in soil

holes in a tree that could be used by bees

nesting box constructed for cavity nesting bees

Access to Clean Water

• ponds• bird baths• ditches

Bee-friendly Practices

• Provide floral resources. • Provide nesting resources.• Provide clean water source. • Reduce insecticide use.• Use bee-safe insecticides if pest

control is necessary.• Minimize use of herbicides.

Acknowledgements

Funding sources:

For more information visit:

www.nativeplants.msu.edu