Native Bees

Diverse Strategies

Native bees employ a wide variety of nesting strategies. Some dig tunnels in the ground, others use hollow stems or beetle holes in wood, and a few even nest in snail shells. Most are solitary. In some species, females share nesting sites, but each female creates and provisions her own nest without the help of workers.

This diversity means that you have many ways of supporting our native bees. Like those of most creatures, our native bees’ requirements are pretty simple: they need shelter, food, and water. Providing a variety of nesting options and a continuous supply of blooming plants throughout the growing season can support a wide range of native bee species. Consider leaving some bare soil for ground nesters, installing bee hotels for cavity nesters, and planting a diverse array of native flowers to provide nectar and pollen resources.

Creating Habitat

The best thing you can do for native bees is to embrace a bit of messiness in your yard. Allowing space for a variety of habitats, such as loose soil patches for ground nesters and dead wood and pithy stems for cavity nesters, will go a long way toward supporting native bee populations. Leave some bare soil undisturbed, keep dead stems standing through winter, and skip the fall cleanup in parts of your garden. Piles of dead leaves left in a corner of your yard can provide shelter for bumblebees that hibernate during the winter.

Plant a diversity of native flowers that bloom at different times, avoid pesticides, and provide a water source. These simple steps can transform your property into a haven for dozens of native bee species.

Explore our pollinator resources below