Host Plants:
Where Found:
Originally from Europe, now distributed worldwide in temperate climates
Description:
Small bees about ¾ inch long, with triangular heads and alternating yellowish and dark brown bands on their bodies are usually honeybees. When honeybees find a good source of flower nectar, they tend to feed in large numbers during times of day when the nectar is most abundant. At the tip of the abdomen is a barbed stinger which is used to sting creatures that threaten an individual or the colony. However, honeybees rarely sting unless they are accidentally squashed or their nest is threatened.
Beneficial Because:
Honeybees help pollinate hundreds of different crop plants, and strong colonies produce surplus honey that can be harvested.
Food and Habitat:
Honeybees conserve their energy during the cold winter months, and begin to seek nectar sources early in spring. When spring flowers and fruit trees bloom, honeybees can gather enough flower nectar and pollen to make honey and increase their numbers. Honeybees that are not housed in hives often makes homes for themselves in hollow trees. They will make their nests close to sources of pollen and nectar such as wildflower meadows, flowering crops, shrubs and fruit trees.
Attracting More:
Try to maintain a steady supply of blooming flowers throughout the season, starting with spring crocuses and ending with fall goldenrods and asters. Blooming trees are also a big boon to honeybees. Avoid growing double-flowered varieties of ornamental plants as these limit the bees' ability to collect pollen and nectar.
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