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Bees build a variety of nest structures depending on the species. Identifying the type of nest can help you determine what bees may be living on your property. In this article we’ll explore some of the most common bee nests with accompanying pictures to help you recognize them.
Ground Nests
Many solitary bee species nest underground, excavating tunnels in bare soil or sandy banks. The holes are about the width of a pencil and may be several inches deep.
[Image: Ground nesting bee burrows in soil]
Examples of ground nesting bees include mining bees, sweat bees, and digger bees. The bees provision individual nest cells with pollen and nectar to feed their offspring. They line the walls with a waterproof secretion.
Carpenter Bee Nests
Carpenter bees get their name from their ability to excavate nesting tunnels in wooden structures. The female bees chew circular holes into untreated softwoods like fence posts, sheds, and wooden outdoor furniture.
[Image Carpenter bee holes in wood fence]
The tunnel leads to a series of provisioned brood cells. Carpenter bees prefer weathered, unpainted wood and can be significant pests for homeowners. Each nest hole is about 1⁄2 inch wide.
Bumble Bee Nests
Bumble bees typically nest in small cavities just below ground level, such as abandoned rodent burrows. The interior of the nest is made of wax and has a cluster of honey pots filled with nectar.
[Image: Bumble bee nest in ground]
These fuzzy bees live in small colonies of 50-400 individuals. The nests contain eggs, larva and pupae in various stages of development, watched over by adult worker bees. Bumble bee nests have a small entrance hole.
Honey Bee Hives
Honey bees construct elaborate wax combs inside their hives to hold brood cells, pollen pots and honey stores. The combs hang vertically from the top of the cavity or hive box.
[Image: Honey bee comb]
Domesticated honey bees live in manmade hive boxes, while wild colonies may nest in tree hollows, caves or abandoned structures. A healthy honey bee hive can contain over 60,000 bees.
Mason Bee Nests
Mason bees use mud or chewed leaf pieces to build dividing walls between their brood cells. Their nests consist of a linear series of partitioned cells in existing hollow tubes or tunnels.
[Image: Mason bee nest in reed]
Natural mason bee nesting sites include hollow stems and holes in wood. These bees also readily take up residence in human-made nest boxes designed just for them. Different mason bee species have varying preferences when it comes to cavity diameter.
Leafcutter Bee Nests
Leafcutter bees line their brood cells with precisely cut circular leaf pieces. They nest in pre-existing tubular cavities like holes in trees, reeds or nesting blocks placed outside by humans.
[Image: Leafcutter bee nest in tube]
The female bees work continuously to build row after row of individual leaf-wrapped cells within the tunnel. Leafcutter bees cut their leaf discs using their mandibles, leaving characteristic scalloped edges behind.
Bald-Faced Hornet Nests
Bald-faced hornets construct large papery nests from wood fibers up high in trees. The nests are enclosed, teardrop-shaped structures with a single hole entry towards the bottom.
[Image: Bald-faced hornet nest in tree]
Hornet nests grow to the size of a basketball or even larger by the end of summer. The hornets defend the nest aggressively if disturbed. Abandoned hornet nests can persist for years.
Mud Dauber Nests
Mud dauber wasps build nests from mud, which they apply in long rows of cylindrical chambers. The nests are attached under overhangs like eaves, porches and sheds.
[Image: Mud dauber nest under eave]
Each mud chamber holds one wasp egg along with paralyzed spiders to serve as food. The grayish mud nests are left abandoned once winter comes and the adult wasps die off.
Examples of honey bees inside structures
It is possible for honey bees to build a hive inside the siding of a house or other building. In that case, extracting might be required.
It’s a swarm if you see a ball of bees hanging from a branch or a bush or sitting on a bench or something else. Please note that if they’re undisturbed, they are not aggressive!.
Examples of honey bee swarms:
There are many kinds of wasps in the U.S., most familiar are yellow jackets and hornets.
Examples of honey bee hives
Honey bees prefer to nest in a hollow tree, a hive box, or other man-made structures. They never nest in the ground.
16 Types of Bees
FAQ
How do I know what kind of bees nest I have?
What are the three types of beehives?
What does a wild honey bee nest look like?
What is the difference between a wasp nest and a bees nest?
What are the different types of bee & wasp nests?
Bee and wasp nests can be categorized into three basic types. It is worth noting that certain species may show a preference for a specific nest type. For instance, bald-faced hornets are exclusively aerial nesters, while bumble bees and yellow jackets are less specialized in their nesting habits.
What are the different types of bee nests?
Bees are incredible insects that display a remarkable diversity in their nesting habits. These fascinating creatures build nests in various locations, each suited to their specific needs and preferences. In this section, we will explore the three main types of bee nests: ground nests, tree nests, and cavity nests.
How many bumblebees live in a nest?
It depends on the type of bee. For example, bumblebee nests usually hold between 50-400 bumblebees. Honeybee nests can be much larger, holding up to 60,000 honeybees. But not all bees live in colonies. In fact, most bees are solitary bees that live by themselves. For instance, carpenter bees, mason bees, and sweat bees all live alone.
How do we classify bee nests?
In this regard, we can classify bee nests as follows: Certain bee species opt for the earth’s embrace, excavating tunnels in the soil for their colonies. Examples include the alkali bee (Nomia melanderi), grey-backed mining bee (Andrena vaga), and hairy-footed flower bee (Dasypoda plumipes).
What is the difference between a hive and a bee nest?
The terms “bee hive” and “bee nest” are often used interchangeably, but they can have slightly different meanings depending on the context. A bee hive generally refers to a man-made structure or container that humans create to house and manage bee colonies, particularly those of honey-producing bees.
What is a bee nest?
A bee nest, on the other hand, typically refers to a natural structure that bees construct to serve as their dwelling and breeding place. In this context, a bee nest could refer to a cavity in a tree, a crevice in a rock, or any other naturally occurring space where bees establish their colony.