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Bees build a variety of nest structures depending on the species. There are over 20,000 different bee species, so their nests can vary greatly in appearance and location. Some bees build elaborate waxy structures while others simply occupy holes in the ground.
Understanding the different types of bee nests can help you identify bees around your home and property. It also allows you to appreciate the diversity and ingenuity of bee nest architecture.
Honey Bee Nests
Honey bees construct the iconic waxy honeycomb structures that most people associate with bee nests Honey bees live together in large colonies containing thousands to tens of thousands of bees.
Their nests are comprised of multiple hexagonal cells made from beeswax Worker bees secrete wax from glands on their abdomen and use it to build the comb The cells of the honeycomb are used to
- House developing brood (bee larvae and pupae)
- Store pollen and honey for food
- Provide spaces for bees to rest
Honey bee nests are started by scout bees who locate an empty cavity like a tree hollow. The bees build wax comb structures connecting from the top to the bottom of the cavity. As the colony grows over time, the nest expands into multiple layers of comb.
Mature honey bee nests can be several feet wide and contain dozens of wax combs full of brood cells, food stores and bees. The orderly, geometric comb pattern is an engineering marvel.
Bumble Bee Nests
Bumble bees also live in centralized nests with multiple bees. However, their nests look quite different from honey bees.
Bumble bees most often nest in abandoned rodent burrows underground or other existing cavities like hollow logs. The queen bumble bee will start the nest in early spring and begin laying eggs.
As the colony grows through summer, bumble bee workers construct brood cells, pollen pots and nectar pots from beeswax. But the comb is irregular, lacking the perfect hexagonal honeycomb structure of honey bees. It may appear more clumped, random and messy compared to a honey bee nest.
Bumble bee nests are also much smaller, housing fewer than 100 to 400 bees. By late fall, the nest dies out as the colony completes its annual life cycle.
Solitary Bee Nests
Unlike social bees, most bee species are solitary bees. Each female bee lives and reproduces on her own rather than being part of a colony. Solitary bees nest in a diversity of sites, including:
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Underground burrows – Mining bees excavate long tunnels in the soil leading to brood cells. The burrow entrance is a small hole in the ground.
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Wood cavities – Small carpenter bees chew nests into dead wood, bamboo stems or structural timbers. The rounded nest entrance is about the diameter of a pencil.
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Pithy plant stems – Leafcutter and mason bees use the soft pith in stems of plants like elderberry or sumac for their nests. No external structure is visible.
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Pre-existing holes – Solitary bees readily occupy existing voids like insect tunnels in logs or holes in stone walls. Nesting materials like paper tubes or reed stems offer man-made cavities.
Since they nest alone, solitary bee nests contain only a few brood cells at most. But their populations can be quite large when many bees dig nests in close proximity.
Identifying Bee Nests On Your Property
Knowing the typical nesting preferences of different bee species makes it easier to identify their nests if you see them around your home. Signs to look for include:
Honey bees – High traffic of bees flying in and out of a void in a tree, chimney, shed wall, etc. Close inspection reveals orderly wax honeycomb.
Bumble bees – Large bees entering and exiting a hole in the ground. The surrounding soil surface may be loose from excavation.
Carpenter bees – Perfectly round holes about 1/2 inch in diameter drilled into wooden surfaces like beams, fence posts, decks. Sawdust evidence below holes.
Mining bees – Small holes in bare patches of soil, sometimes surrounded by a small mound of excavated dirt. Bees flying low over the ground around holes.
Leafcutter/mason bees – No external evidence, must watch for bees carrying leaf pieces, mud or other materials into narrow voids like a wooden post hole or reed stem.
Allowing bee nests to remain on your property provides essential habitat for these important pollinators. Observe bee nests from a distance to avoid disturbing them. With over 4000 bee species native to North America, noticing the signs of different nests can open your eyes to their hidden diversity even in your own backyard!
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.
Are you dealing with honey bees, hornets, yellow jackets, or wasps?
When people call us, they often say they are having trouble with honeybee hives when what they really have are yellow jacket or hornet nests. Below, well outline the difference between honey bees, wasps/hornets, bumble bees, and carpenter bees.
Connecticut Beekeepers Association does not offer removal, extraction, or extermination services.
What does a bumble bee nest look like?
FAQ
How do you tell if you have a bees nest?
How do you identify a bee or wasp nest?
What is the difference between a beehive and a bee nest?
What type of bees make nests in the ground?
What is the shape of a bee nest?
Similarly, the shape of the nest can vary from spherical to irregular. These variations are influenced by factors such as the number of bees in the colony, available space, and the specific needs of the species. Understanding the and shape of bee nests is not only fascinating but also essential for beekeepers and researchers.
How do you know if a bee has a nest?
As far as identifying bees’ nests, they vary depending upon the type of bee. The typical hexagon shaped nest filled with clusters of honeycombs is the home of the honeybee, while holes bored into wood siding are the work of carpenter bees. Bumblebees, meanwhile, build mazes of coral-like nests either at ground level or below ground.
What is the difference between a bee nest and a wasp nest?
Bees tend to build inside cavities (hollow trees – honey bees), (burrows – bumble bees), (hollow stems etc – mason bees). This is a telling difference between a bee nest and a wasp nest – the wasp nest will not have beeswax. Wasps do not have wax glands and cannot make honeycomb. Their grey nests of paper-like material are made with chewed wood.
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 honey bee nest?
A nest by common definition is a place where young insects are being raised. One of the most interesting facts about honey bees is their large family units. But, nesting practices vary among species – you might walk by someone’s home and never notice it. Seeing a group of insects close together in one location seems to indicate a nest.
What are beehives & wasp nests?
Beehives and wasp nests are reflective of the physical qualities of each species. Here’s a closer look at how these insects create their homes. Carpenter bees are hairy bees that make their tunnels in softwood, like redwood, cedar, or pine. This means that carpenter bees target doors or walls made from the aforementioned materials for breeding.