Get Buzzed! A Guide to the Many Bee Species Found in Ohio

As an avid backyard gardener and nature lover in Ohio, I’ve always been fascinated by the busy bees I see flitting from flower to flower Beyond just the honeybee, there are actually around 500 different bee species that call Ohio home! In this article, I’ll highlight 10 common bee types you’re likely to spot, how to identify them, their nesting habits, and more buzz-worthy facts about our state’s diverse native bee population

While European honeybees get most of the buzz, there are actually 25,000-30,000 bee species globally, 500 of which can be found right here in Ohio. Beyond just the honeybee, our state is home to bumblebees, carpenter bees, mining bees, mason bees, sweat bees, and more.

Bees play a vital role as pollinators in ecosystems and agriculture, Around 1/3 of every bite we eat relies on pollination by bees and other insects Let’s look at 10 bee species commonly seen in Ohio backyards and landscapes

Honey Bee

The European honeybee (Apis mellifera) is perhaps the most familiar recognizable with its fuzzy striped golden abdomen. Honeybees live in large hives with 40000-60,000 workers and build wax combs to store honey.

Size: 12-15 mm
Nesting: Man-made hives or tree cavities
Traits: Heart-shaped head, pollen baskets on legs

Bumble Bee

Large and fuzzy, bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are known for “buzz pollination” and their ability to work in cool weather. They create small underground colonies.

Size: 8-21 mm
Nesting: Underground like old rodent burrows
Traits: Robust, fuzzy body with white, yellow, orange or red bands

Leafcutter Bee

Leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.) use their large jaws to cut circular pieces of leaves to line their nests. They carry pollen on hairy undersides.

Size: 7-15 mm
Nesting: Above-ground holes
Traits: Pointed abdomen, head as wide as thorax

Mason Bee

Mason bees (Osmia spp.) get their name from using mud to build nests. They are important early spring pollinators.

Size: 7-16 mm
Nesting: Above-ground holes, crevices
Traits: Metallic blue-green coloration

Mining Bee

Mining bees (Andrena spp.) create solitary underground burrows and carry pollen on their legs and thorax. They prefer sandy soils.

Size: 5.5-15 mm
Nesting: Underground
Traits: Light hair bands on dark abdomen

Carpenter Bee

Large carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) bore into wood, like fences or eaves, to make nests. They resemble bumblebees but are shiny.

Size: 15-23 mm
Nesting: Wood cavities
Traits: Robust, mostly hairless abdomen

Small Carpenter Bee

Small carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.) make nests in stems and twigs. The females have a yellow dot pattern on their faces.

Size: 5-8 mm
Nesting: Stems, twigs
Traits: Metallic greenish-blue, slender

Sweat Bee

As the name suggests, sweat bees (family Halictidae) are attracted to salt in perspiration. There are metallic green and black varieties.

Size: 3.5-11 mm
Nesting: Underground
Traits: Slender, light hair bands on abdomen

Squash Bee

Squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) earned their name from exclusively pollinating pumpkin, squash and gourd flowers.

Size: 11-14 mm
Nesting: Underground near crops
Traits: Dense hairy thorax, long antennae

Long-Horned Bee

Male long-horned bees (Melissodes spp.) have incredibly long antennae. The females closely resemble bumblebees.

Size: 8-16 mm
Nesting: Underground
Traits: Long antennae on males, pale hairy bands

Tips for Identifying Bees in Ohio

Here are some key pointers for identifying and appreciating the diversity of bees in Ohio:

• Observe size – From tiny sweat bees to large carpenter bees, size can be a helpful first clue.

• Watch behavior – Nesting habits, pollen preferences, interactions with flowers, and actions like leaf cutting all help point to bee species.

• Note hair patterns – Fuzzy bumblebees vs. the mostly bare metallic bodies of carpenter bees, for example.

• Check out legs and underside – Many carry pollen on rear legs or abdomens.

• Consider face shape – Heart-shaped on honeybees, wide on leafcutters, slender on mining bees.

• Examine antennae – From short stubs to feather-like tufts to ultra long on male long-horns.

• Identify markings – Dots, stripes, light hair bands help differentiate.

Benefits of Native Bees in Ohio

Beyond honey production, our 500 native bee species contribute immensely to biodiversity, ecosystems, food crop yields, and more across Ohio’s landscapes. Here’s why protecting bees of all kinds is so important:

• Pollination – Bees fertilize flowers and support fruit and seed production of many plants.

• Food security – At least 1/3 of food crops benefit from bee pollination for higher yields.

• Ecosystem health – Bees maintain plant diversity and provide food for birds, wildlife.

• Economic value – Bee pollination adds billions annually to U.S. crop markets.

• Backyard gardens – Bees improve pollination for larger, tastier yields in home veggie and flower gardens.