You can use these links to my favorite bee ID charts and other tools to help you find the different kinds of bees. There are even a couple of downloadable books and papers. But it can be hard to tell the difference between the species of bees, so you might want to look at my … Read more
There may be a honey bee nest on your property if you’ve seen a lot of honey bees. These nests are often hidden, and can be a bit difficult to find. Wondering where bees are most likely to nest? Here are 5 common places: Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are extremely versatile when it comes to … Read more
The half black bumble bee (Bombus vagans) is a very common species found throughout Wisconsin and much of North America. It plays an important role as a pollinator in natural and agricultural ecosystems. This medium-sized bee has some distinctive markings that make it easy to identify. Let’s take a closer look at the biology, behavior, … Read more
Honey bees are extremely important pollinators that are also capable of stinging and damaging homes by building hives in walls or attics. While extermination is undesirable, controlling honey bee pests around the home is sometimes necessary. This requires an integrated pest management (IPM) approach using prevention, targeted hive removal, and bee-safe controls. Understanding Honey Bee … Read more
As a longtime resident of California I’ve always been fascinated by the diversity of bumble bees buzzing around my garden. While the large fuzzy black and yellow bumble bees are familiar to most, California is actually home to several species of predominantly black bumble bees that are lesser known but just as important. In this … Read more
Have you seen bees around your house that aren’t the typical bumblebee color scheme? Instead, they’re almost entirely black. These are carpenter bees, and like carpenter ants, they may be up to no good around your house. Let’s learn a little more about them and how you can avoid any problems. Have you spotted a … Read more
Bumblebees are common in the U. S. , so you may be accustomed to seeing a few in your yard during the warm months. However, having lots of bumblebees in your yard may be more of a surprise. There may be a lot of bumblebees around your house. This post will talk about why and … Read more
At this point, you’ve probably learned more information than you can remember in your beekeeping journey. Many beekeepers check their hives once a month to make sure that small bugs like varroa mites and hive beetles are not living there. However, those aren’t the only pests that can wreak havoc on your colony. Find out … Read more
There are nearly 1 million insect species that can be found across the globe, according to the Smithsonian. There are so many creepy crawlers out there that some might be in your backyard, and you might not even know it. We know about honey bees and bumblebees, but what about sweat bees? These bugs are … Read more
CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. Those pesky bees! They like to come out of hiding in the early spring, so it’s likely that they’re already out and about now … Read more