Bees

Anytime during the summer you venture out into a field of wildflowers or a garden, look carefully and you will see bees. We all know the phrase “Birds and the Bees” and know that the bees are one of the chief pollinators of flowers. Flowers rely on the spread of pollin from anther to stigma thus enabling fertilization and production of seeds. But how closely have you really looked at the “bees”. Many if not most folks think of a bee as an individual species when in fact there are more than 400 species of bee in New York state alone. Some estimates have the number as high as possibly 500! Just spend a bit more time your nest visit to the field or garden and look a bit more closely to see the differences in the anatomy and behavior of different bees. Below are just a few I found in my butterfly garden this afternoon.

One of the more common bees in the garden is the Common Eastern bumblebee. The Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) is a widespread and recognizable species found primarily in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. Known for its robust body covered in black and yellow bands, this bumblebee plays a crucial role in pollinating various wildflowers and crops. It thrives in diverse habitats, including gardens, fields, and woodlands. The species is noted for its gentle nature, making it less aggressive than other bees. As a social insect, the Common Eastern Bumblebee lives in colonies that consist of a queen, workers, and males, contributing significantly to ecosystem health and agricultural productivity.

Western Honey Bee

Our next garden bee is the Western honey bee. The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common honey bee in the world. Known for its distinctive golden-brown coloration and banded abdomen, this species plays a crucial role in agriculture by pollinating a variety of crops, thus supporting biodiversity and food production. Western honey bees live in highly organized colonies consisting of a single queen, numerous workers, and drones, with workers responsible for tasks such as foraging, brood care, and hive maintenance. Their ability to produce honey and beeswax has made them invaluable to humans for both commercial and personal use. Despite their resilience, Western honey bee populations face threats from habitat loss, disease, and pesticides, prompting efforts in conservation and sustainable beekeeping practices.

Ligated furrow bee

Our third bee of the day is the Ligated furrow bee. Halictus ligatus is one of the species of “sweat bees”, so-named for their attraction to human sweat. The Ligated furrow bee has its nest under ground, hence the name “furrow” bee. Interestingly, this bee is considered to be “eusocial” which is the highest level of sociality. In many of the colonies of eusocial bees, there are “castes” which develop within which Queens and reproductive males are the sole reproducers, and soldiers and workers work together to create a living situation favorable to the brood. While they are attracted to the salts of human sweat, they are generally docile and will not sting unless the nest is disturbed. Within the nest, however, they can be aggressive to the point of queens fighting for superiority and eating the eggs of other females.

Brown-belted bumblebee

One more species of bumblebee to round out today’s observations. This is the Brown-belted bumblebee. The brown-belted bumblebee (Bombus griseocollis) is a distinctive species native to North America, recognized by the characteristic brown band across its otherwise yellow and black body. These bumblebees are medium-sized and play a crucial role in pollinating a variety of wildflowers and crops. Typically found in open fields, gardens, and forest edges, brown-belted bumblebees are active during the warmer months, contributing significantly to the local ecosystem by supporting plant reproduction.

Talk about your “tip of the iceberg”! Reminder that these are only four of well over 400 bee species in New York alone! How can you see and identify some of these various types of bees in your yard or the field? Check out the Tech tips today for some great information on a helpful App.

Tech Tip - Today’s tip is about an app for your phone that will help you identify and learn about just about any living creature you find in nature! The app is called iNaturalist and is available for free on any of the App Stores. iNaturalist is a community-driven platform that allows users to record and share observations of plants, animals, and other organisms in their natural environments. It serves as a valuable tool for both amateur naturalists and professional scientists by crowdsourcing biodiversity data worldwide. Through the app or website, users can upload photos and location details of their sightings, which are then identified and verified by the community and artificial intelligence algorithms. This collaborative approach not only enhances species identification accuracy but also contributes to ecological research and conservation efforts by creating an extensive database of global biodiversity. To start using iNaturalist yourself, go to your App Store on your phone, search for iNaturalist and download the app. While you will have to create an account, there are no hidden fees, no ads, no one monitoring your web activity. All absolutely free! To learn more about iNaturalist, click on the link below to go to a very complete YouTube tutorial. Try it and enjoy!