Demystifying the Black and White Bee
If you’ve noticed some distinctly colored black and white bees visiting your garden, you may wonder what type they are and if you should be concerned. This striking bee species generates a lot of curiosity due to its trademark look. In this article, we’ll uncover the identity and behaviors of the black and white bee so you can coexist safely with your new pollinating neighbors.
What Kind of Bee Is Black and White?
The black and white bees that occasionally frequent backyards and fields actually belong to one of two common species:
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The hairy-footed flower bee (Anthophora plumipes)
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The zebra bee (Osmia fasciata)
Both types are solitary, non-aggressive bees that serve important roles as early season pollinators. Let’s explore some identification features and traits of each distinct variety.
Hairy-Footed Flower Bee
As their name suggests, hairy-footed flower bees have dense little hairs on their feet and legs that help collect pollen. They are fairly large, reaching about 2/3 inch in length. Their thorax is covered in black hairs, the abdomen has reddish-orange hairs, and the face is white. Only the females have striking patches of black and white hairs, making them easily recognizable. They resemble bumble bees but are more slender.
Zebra Bee
Zebra bees are smaller, averaging 1/4 to 1/2 inch long. They have distinctive black and white bands across their abdomen, like a tiny zebra. The female zebra bee’s head and thorax are black, while the male’s head and thorax are a pale yellow. Zebra bees are a type of mason bee, so they nest in cavities and holes. When viewed up close, their striped pattern and metallic sheen are beautiful!
Where Do They Live?
Because they are solitary bees, hairy-footed flower bees and zebra bees don’t live in large communal hives like honey bees. Instead, they create individual brood cells for their larvae. Here are their typical nesting habits:
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Hairy-footed flower bees – They nest in burrows dug into bare soil, sandy banks, cliff faces, and embankments. Burrows may reach depths of 16 inches or more and have branching cells.
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Zebra bees – They favor nesting in hollow stems, abandoned beetle holes in dead trees, gaps in stone walls, and even upturned flower pots. Each female zebra bee builds her own linear series of brood cells.
Both species prefer sunny, exposed sites with sandy soil or old wood. If you notice numerous holes dug in a bare embankment or frequent zebra bees investigating spots around your yard, they may be nesting on your property.
What Do They Feed On?
As pollen specialists, these bees forage mainly on flowers to collect nectar and pollen.
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Hairy-footed flower bees favor fruit tree blossoms, dandelions, red deadnettle, daisies, and willow flowers. Adults are active from early spring through summer.
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Zebra bees visit a wide range of early blooming flowers including roses, violets, clovers, spring heath, and rhododendrons. They forage from late winter into spring.
Providing a variety of flowering native plants will help support these important pollinating bees in your area.
Do Black and White Bees Sting?
The good news is that hairy-footed flower bees and zebra bees are generally not aggressive. Their stingers are quite small and suited mainly for defending nests rather than attacking. Still, females may sting if extremely provoked:
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Hairy-footed flower bee stings are mild but can cause localized reactions in sensitive individuals. Swelling typically subsides within a day.
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Zebra bee stings are considered relatively harmless, comparable to a mosquito bite. Only large amounts of venom injected might trigger issues.
However, allergic individuals should still exercise caution. Try to avoid swatting at the bees or blocking nesting areas. Stinging incidents are unlikely with calm, respectful behavior.
Tips for Safely Coexisting with Black and White Bees
Both hairy-footed flower bees and zebra bees are extremely important native pollinators we should nurture in our environments. Here are some tips for safely living alongside them:
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Let them bee! Avoid disturbing or provoking them when possible.
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Teach children not to panic or directly interact with them.
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Tolerate them nesting in out-of-the-way spots on your property. Their broods rapidly die off.
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Fill a bee bath or shallow dish with fresh water and rocks for safe drinking and resting.
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Plant a wide variety of blooming flowers to nourish them. Native plants are ideal.
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Put up bee houses to encourage nesting in desired areas.
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Contact a beekeeper to safely relocate colonies if needed. Avoid exterminators.
Take the time to appreciate the beauty and vital pollination services these striking black and white bees provide. A little understanding goes a long way to ensure peaceful cohabitation with our backyard wildlife.
Learn Bee Types in English! Common Bee Names! Bee Species in English! Different Types of Bees!
FAQ
What type of bee is black and white?
Do carpenter bees sting or bumble bees?
How to get rid of black and white bees?
Do black carpenter bees make honey?
What color is a honey bee?
The most recognized bee color is black and yellow, with stripes on the back. Yellow and black are warning colors to keep enemies away from bees and their stingers. Honey bees are just one type of bee, but other species of bees may be green, blue, orange, purple, grey, white, and pure black.
What type of bees have black and white stripes?
Drones are male bees whose primary role is to mate with the queen. Bumblebees are another species of bees that exhibit black and white stripes. They are larger and hairier than honeybees, and their stripes can vary in color from yellow to orange.
Are bees black and white?
Most bees are black and yellow, but there are many black and white bees as well. These species are usually solitary bees that don’t produce honey and live outside of colonies. Bees are incredibly important insects. They are responsible for pollinating about 70 percent of the world’s crops.
What do white spotted black bees look like?
The white-spotted black bees measure 0.47” to 0.55” (12 – 14 mm) long. Other identifying features of the black and white square-spotted mourning bee are its translucent dark brown pair of wings, thick, black antennae, and kidney-shaped black compound eyes.
What is a black and white fuzzy bee?
The black and white fuzzy insect also has tufts of gray-white hairs on its face. This small black and white bee measures 0.6” (15 mm) long. Also called the gray mining bee or Danubian miner, the tiny bee gets its name from its habit of making burrow nests. The solitary bees tend to nest in lawns, parklands, flower beds, and orchards.
What percentage of Bees Make Honey?
Of these species, less than 5 percent of them actually make honey. Most bees are black and yellow, but there are many black and white bees as well. These species are usually solitary bees that don’t produce honey and live outside of colonies. Bees are incredibly important insects.