The Prairie State of Illinois is home to a rich and diverse array of bee species, each with its own unique characteristics and ecological roles. As bee populations decline, it becomes increasingly important for us to understand and appreciate these fascinating insects and the essential work they do.
In this article, we provide an in-depth look at ten diverse bee species found in Illinois, focusing on their physical characteristics, nesting habits, and swarming behaviors.
You are reading: 7 Types Of Bees In Illinois And Where They Swarm
7 Types Of Bees In Illinois And Where They Swarm
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
– Honey bees, known scientifically as Apis mellifera, are perhaps the most well-known and widely recognized bee species. They are native to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, but European settlers introduced them to North America in the 17th century.
– Honey bees are adaptable and live throughout Illinois, inhabiting both rural and urban environments. They are important crop pollinators, feeding on the nectar and pollen of flowers.
– These bees often establish their hives in various locations, including hollow trees, rock crevices, and man-made structures. Swarms occur when a colony becomes overcrowded, prompting the queen and a group of workers to leave the hive in search of a new nesting site.
Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.)
– Bumblebees are a group of social bee species that form structured colonies, and the genus Bombus comprises over 250 species. They are found primarily in higher altitudes or latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, although they are also found in South America, where a few lowland tropical species have been identified.
– Bumblebees are important pollinators of wild flowering plants and crops. As generalist foragers, they do not depend on any one flower type, although some plants do rely on bumblebees to achieve pollination.
– Bumblebees are the only bees native to North America that are truly social. They live in colonies, have different divisions of labor or castes, and have overlapping generations, usually with multiple broods throughout the spring, summer, and fall. However, unlike the non-native, European honey bees, the bumblebee colony has an annual life cycle. At the end of the summer, the foundress queen, her workers, and male offspring will all die.
– Bumblebees are generalist feeders, often the first bees active in late winter (February) and the last in fall (November). Since they are active for so many months, they must be able to forage on a wide range of plant species in a wide range of weather conditions to support a colony. Early season and late-season resources are critical, as these are sensitive times of the year for successful establishment and reproduction.
– Bumblebees are distributed throughout Illinois, but they are most abundant and diverse at humid, cool sites rich in flowers, such as mountain meadows. Mated, overwintered queens emerge from hibernation in early spring and begin to establish new colonies.
Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa spp.)
Carpenter bees are species in the genus Xylocopa of the subfamily Xylocopinae. The genus includes some 500 bees in 31 subgenera. They are the largest native bees in the United States, along with bumble bee queens.
Carpenter bees have a worldwide distribution, with seven species found in the United States. They inhabit a broad range of ecosystems from tropical to subtropical to temperate.
The Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) is a Nearctic species found in the eastern, central, and southern parts of the United States, as well as Guatemala.
Carpenter bees are known for their nesting behavior, as they burrow into hard plant material such as dead wood or bamboo. The main exceptions are species in the subgenus Proxylocopa, which dig nesting tunnels in suitable soil. They are long-lived, with a lifespan of up to three years, and there can be one or two generations per year.
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Often, newly hatched daughters live together in their nest with their mother, leading some entomologists to consider carpenter bees primitively social. However, unlike honey bees and bumble bees, there are no queen or worker castes, only individual males and females.
In terms of foraging, carpenter bees are generalists and may be found foraging on a number of different species in vegetable and flower gardens. They are early morning foragers and use their powerful thoracic muscles to sonicate the dry pollen grains out of a flower’s anthers, a type of pollen gathering called “buzz pollination”. Carpenter bees are excellent pollinators of eggplant, tomato, and other vegetables.
Mining Bees (Andrena spp.)
Mining bees, also known as Andrena bees, are a genus of ground-nesting, solitary bees in the family Andrenidae. They are one of the largest groups of solitary bees, with over 1,500 known species worldwide. Here are some key characteristics and behaviors of mining bees:
– Morphology: Andrena bees are generally medium-sized, with body lengths ranging between 8 and 17 mm. Males are smaller and more slender than females. Most Andrena species are black with white to tan hair, and their wings have either two or three submarginal cells. They carry pollen mainly on femoral scopal hairs, but many Andrena have an additional propodeal corbicula for carrying some pollen on their thorax.
– Nesting: All Andrena bees are ground nesters, with a preference for sandy soils. After mating, each female bee digs a burrow, collects pollen to form firm, round provisions for the larvae to eat, and places them in cells lined with a shiny secretion. Larvae do not spin a cocoon and they overwinter as adults. While most Andrena species are solitary nesters, some nest communally or in aggregations.
– Habitat: Andrena bees are found nearly worldwide, with the notable exceptions of Oceania and South America. They are essential pollinators of a vast range of native wildflowers and garden plants, including woodland bulbs, wild berries, flowering trees and shrubs, tree peonies, fruit trees, blueberries, roses, and herbs.
– Specialization: The genus Andrena contains both generalist and specialist species in terms of their food resources. Some plant taxa, such as evening primroses (Oenothera), are highly dependent on Andrena for pollination. In Vermont, at least 40% of the species are thought to be flower specialists.
– Aggregations: Andrena bees often nest in large aggregations, with some “bee cities” numbering in the tens of thousands of individuals. In these aggregations, each female usually builds her own nest and individually supplies it with food.
Sweat Bees (Halictidae)
Sweat bees, also known as Halictidae, are a diverse group of bees that belong to the second-largest family of bees, with nearly 4,500 species worldwide. Here are some key characteristics and behaviors of sweat bees:
– Morphology: Halictid species can vary greatly in appearance, with some being metallic and others non-metallic. They are generally small, ranging in size from ¼ to ¾ inch. Most members of this family are black or brown, but some are brightly colored.
– Habitat: Sweat bees are found on every continent except Antarctica, occupying a wide variety of habitats. They are especially abundant in temperate regions. Adults are usually seen foraging for pollen and nectar among flowers in fields, gardens, grasslands, roadsides, and other open places where flowers are abundant.
– Nesting: Nearly all sweat bees nest in the ground, while a few nest in rotten wood. Some species in the genus Augochlorella have developed social behavior, but their soil nests rarely have more than a few occupants. The life cycle of sweat bees includes larvae developing within the nests, feeding on a mass of pollen and nectar provided by their mothers.
– Behavior: One of the most noticeable traits of sweat bees is their attraction to perspiration, which offers them precious moisture and salts. They are generally not aggressive and do not pose a significant threat to humans. Halictid bees can display a diverse range of social behaviors, including solitary, communal, semi-social, or primitively eusocial, depending on various factors such as time of year, geographic location, altitude, and unknown factors.
– Importance: Sweat bees are essential pollinators, playing a crucial role in the reproduction of many plant species. They are also important for the ecosystem as a food source for other animals.
Cuckoo Bees (Nomada spp.)
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Cuckoo bees, specifically the genus Nomada, are a group of bees known for their parasitic behavior. With over 850 species, Nomada is the largest genus of cuckoo bees in the family Apidae. Here are some key characteristics and behaviors of cuckoo bees:
– Morphology: Nomada bees are often wasp-like in appearance, with some species being red or red and black, while others have yellow integumental markings or white markings instead of yellow. Females are easily identifiable by their lack of a pollen-carrying scopa, reduced body hair, thick exoskeleton, and mandibles.
– Parasitic Behavior: Cuckoo bees, including Nomada, are kleptoparasites, meaning they enter the nests of other bees and lay their eggs there, stealing resources that the host has already collected. Nomada bees primarily parasitize various types of bees, including the genus Andrena, as well as Agapostemon, Melitta, Eucera, and Exomalopsis.
– Nesting and Life Cycle: As parasites, Nomada bees do not collect pollen to feed their offspring, and they lack a pollen-carrying scopa. The details of their wing venation and the nature of the patch of silvery setae at the tip of the female metasoma are the best distinguishing features for separating this genus from other Nomadinae. Adult cuckoo bees are known to visit flowers and feed on nectar, similar to non-parasitic bees.
– Distribution: Nomada bees are found worldwide, with more than 280 species in North America north of Mexico. They inhabit a variety of habitats, and their specific distribution often depends on the availability of suitable host species.
Macropis Bees
Macropis bees are a genus of bees in the family Melittidae, with over 16 species identified worldwide. Here are some key characteristics and behaviors of Macropis bees:
– Morphology: Macropis bees are of moderate size, not exceeding 15 mm. They have a predominantly black livery, with males characterized by conspicuous yellow markings on the head. Females show morphological adaptations related to their foraging habits of flower oils, with posterior tibiae that are very developed and covered with dense velvety hairs. Unlike most Melittidae, the wing has only two submarginal cells.
– Habitat: Macropis bees are found in various habitats across the world, including North America. They are unique in collecting oils from native Loosestrifes (Genus Lysimachia) and are thus dependent on these yellow flowers. There is some evidence that Macropis bees are declining in numbers due to habitat loss and degradation.
– Nesting and Life Cycle: Macropis bees are solitary bees that dig their nests in the ground. Most species are oligolectic and feed on pollen and floral oils of Lysimachia spp. They make a single generation per year. The males emerge from the ground in spring, just before the females, and await the females in the vicinity of the flowers of the host plant. After mating, the females dig a nest in the ground, ending with one or two rooms in which pollen is collected and placed on the egg. The larvae, feeding on the pollen, develop rapidly and within 10 days turn into pupae, spending the winter in this stage. Macropis nests are often parasitized by bee cleptoparasites such as Epeoloides.
– Importance: Macropis bees are important pollinators of native Loosestrifes, playing a crucial role in the reproduction of these plants. They are also important for the ecosystem as a food source for other animals. The Macropis cuckoo bee, Epeoloides pilosulus, is the only North American member of a genus that contains two species, the other being found in Europe.
FAQS
1. How many types of bees are found in Illinois?
Illinois is home to a remarkable variety of bee species, with an estimated 400 to 500 native bees inhabiting the state.
2. What are some common types of bees in Illinois?
Some common types of bees found in Illinois include honey bees, bumblebees, mining bees, long-horned bees, and cuckoo bees.
3. Do all bees in Illinois swarm?
Swarming behavior is uncommon in solitary bees, such as mining bees. However, social bees like honey bees may produce swarms, especially in the spring, when a newly produced queen flies off with about half the colony’s worker bees to establish a new colony.
4. How long do bee swarms typically stay in one location?
Bee swarms can stay in a temporary location, such as a tree branch or fence post, for a couple of hours to several days, depending on various factors.
5. Are all bees in Illinois native to the region?
Honey bees, while common, are not native to North America, including Illinois. The state is home to a diverse range of native bee species that have adapted to the region’s plants and ecosystems.
6. What should I do if I find a bee swarm?
If you encounter a bee swarm, it is best to leave it undisturbed and contact a local beekeeper who may be interested in collecting the swarm. Provide the beekeeper with information about the swarm’s location, such as the address or GPS coordinates, and any relevant details that can help them assess the situation.
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Category: Birds
