Types Of Bees In Michigan
Types of bees in Michigan include many native and non-native bees. Many of the bee types do well and thrive in the state. They also bring many benefits including pollinating flowers and vegetables as well as producing honey.
Types of bees in Michigan State
Some of the bee species can be found concentrated in some specific parts of Michigan. However, some of the bee species can be found in almost all parts of the state.
Honey Bees
Many aspects of a honey bee colony are cyclic. The honey bees can be aggressive and can attack until the colony gets a queen. Check out this post on 10 types of bees that sting.
They are super–important pollinators for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They also live in hives and have one serious sense of smell.
Bumblebees
The Bumblebee is the largest and gentle bee that can be found in Michigan. They are excellent pollinators and they mainly forage with pollen rather than nectar.
Female worker’s bees do the collection of nectar and pollen. They love native plants and are fussy and anything that produces nectar and pollen works for them.
They can fly in cooler temperatures and lower light conditions compared to all other types of bees.
Long-horned Bees
The long-horned bees got the name because of their long antennae which make them look cute. Female long-horned bees sting but the male bees don’t sting.
The male long-horned bees have longer antennae compared to the female long-horned bees. However, the females have hairs on their legs. They also have yellow faces.
Cuckoo Bees
Cuckoo bees live in urban areas, forests, and woodlands. The female Cuckoo bees have red abdomens and black bodies. The male Cuckoo bees have all black bodies and abdomens. They do not build their nests, they lay their eggs in other bees’ nests.
Green Sweat Bees
They have a metallic green color which is distinct. Some of them can be smaller than a grain of rice. Most of them are brown or black in color, metallic green, blue or purple.
Dark Sweat Bees
The Dark sweat bees are often spotted during the summer months. They are generally harmless but can sting if disturbed. Like other bees their stingers have venom.
They have pale hairs at each abdominal segment. They try to fly around sweaty people outdoors and feed on their sweat for salt and minerals.
Masked Bees
They live in urban areas, forests, and woodlands. They nest in twigs, branches, and reeds. They are black with bold yellow or white markings on their faces.
Most of them have slender almost hairless bodies. They also collect nectar and pollen to feed their young ones.
After building their nests in narrow drilled holes, they seal them with a silvery translucent cellophane panel.
Cellophane Bees
Cellophane bees are generally large and hairy. They are found mostly from early spring till the last aster dies in the fall.
Their nests look like tiny volcanoes of sand. One nest is surrounded by many others of similar size and shape.
The female Cellophane bees are capable of stinging but are not aggressive. In general, they won’t sting unless you pick one up or sit on it.
Mason Bees
The Mason bees look similar to houseflies. Have black bodies and a dark blue iridescent sheen. The male mason bees don’t have stingers and will not sting you. However, the female Mason bees have and sting when squeezed or trapped.
Mason bees are among the well-known pollinator bees in the state. They are very good at pollinating fruits.
Leafcutter Bees
The Leafcutter bees are moderately sized and have stout bodies. They carry pollen on hairs that are located on the underside of the abdomen.
They have a similar look to that of dark honey bees. However, they can be differentiated using the underside of the abdomen which is orange.
Leafcutter bees are not aggressive in general. However, they have stings and will use them when they feel provoked and threatened.
Squash Bees
The Squash bees are moderate in size, have got longer antennae and rounder faces. They also carry pollen on their legs.
Young female squash bees dig their nests. They build ground-based nests. They are not aggressive and can be termed fairly docile. The male Squash bees don’t have stingers.
In general. The Squash bees are excellent in pollinating zucchini and butternuts.
Final Thoughts
Michigan has very many types of bees as you can see from the list above. Please share this post on types of bees in Michigan and also follow Multigardening Pinterest for more on bees and beekeeping.