The Buzz On Pollinators
Wild bees, Honey bees & Wasps
Written and photographed by Sandra Ozkur
Nearly 1/3 of human food production and 75 percent of flowering plants require insect pollination. Native bees, bumblebees, and honeybees are super pollinators, but small flies and wasps are often confused with bees and blamed for unwanted stings. It’s important to be able to tell them apart and understand their characteristics so you can attract the right kind of pollinators to your garden.
Bees often get a bad rap for stinging when in fact it was probably a wasp (yellow jacket) that was to blame. At first glance bees and wasps look similar because of their black and yellow markings, but on taking a closer look, you will see that they are very different. Observe their body shape and behavior— bees have thick bullet shaped hairy bodies whereas wasps (yellow jackets) have an elongated, hairless body with a very narrow waist and long thin legs. Bees are vegetarians and rarely sting unless threatened, whereas wasps are carnivores, are more aggressive, and if disturbed can attack multiple times leaving painful stings. Bees, on the other hand are quite docile, can only sting once then die, and do so only if their hive is threatened. Bees drink nectar for carbohydrates and eat pollen for protein whereas wasps eat insect meat for protein and drink nectar for carbohydrates. Bees carry pollen pouches on their back legs and spend their time flitting from flower to flower spreading pollen as they move. Wasps dart about and look for insect prey but spend less time in your flower patch so are not great pollinators but they will keep unwanted pests under control. Wasps are usually the uninvited guests at your picnic table whereas bees prefer to dine amongst the flowers.
You may be surprised to learn that there are over 800 native species of bees in Canada and approximately 400 of those live here in Ontario. When we talk about bees, people tend to think of honey bees, but honey bees are not native to North America, they were brought here by European settlers. Native bees have always done the majority of pollination work but their populations are diminishing due to lack of wild habitat where they can find food and reproduce.
As stewards of the planet, we can help preserve the bee populations by providing ample food sources through the planting of native plants, trees, and flowers which will provide the proper nutrition that is so important to the bees’ survival. Educating yourself about some of the main species of backyard bees can help you make better choices when choosing plants for your garden.
Bees are grouped into two categories according to their foraging (eating) behaviors. Generalist bees can extract nectar and pollen from a large range of flowers, whereas specialist bees can only forage from certain flowers suited to their diet. Their mouth parts are designed to fit into these particular flowers and their reproductive cycle is often synchronized with the blooming times of their host plants.
Generalist bees gather pollen and nectar from any plant that is in bloom, the nectar is made into honey and the pollen is fed to their brood (larvae). Honey bees and bumble bees are both generalist bees so have a better chance of survival.
Bees are also classified according to their social behavior— some are loners and some like to live with their families. Most native bees prefer a solitary lifestyle, whereas bumble bees are social and live in small colonies underground. Honey bees, being the most social of all, build large hives that can contain thousands of family members.
If you want to attract bees to your yard, try to provide the necessary habitat that will support their entire lifecycle. When the necessities of life are at hand, they will be more inclined to take up residence in your yard. Solitary native bees build their nests in burrows underground so leave some bare patches of dirt to dig into. Refrain from having a super tidy garden—fallen leaves and twigs provide protection throughout the winter so don’t rake too early in spring or you may destroy their nests. Dry plant stems and decaying logs serve as wonderful homes for many wild bees and pollinating insects. Once spring arrives, the fertilized female will emerge to gather the necessary nectar and pollen to feed her brood. This is why it is important to provide a variety of blooming plants at all times from spring until fall.
Here is a list of a few of the most common species of bees that will happy to visit your pollinator gardens:
Honey bees are generalist foragers, are very social and can search for food up to 5 km away from home. Honey bees live in hives filled with wax honeycomb that is used to house brood cells as well as honey and pollen. Only the queen lays eggs and the rest of the bees are assigned specific jobs such as gathering nectar, making honey and comb, guarding the hive, tending to the queen or brood, and cleaning or guarding the hive. Honey bees have barbed stingers and die once they sting. Their lifespan ranges from five to seven weeks but are able to hibernate throughout winter as they cluster around the fertilized queen. The hive becomes active again in the spring when the flowers start to bloom.
Bumble Bees are native bees and generalist foragers. They are social but make their nests underground to lay their eggs. They make small amounts of honey that is stored in little wax pots rather than in honeycomb. Bumble bees are large and fuzzy and have many cousins with distinct markings. Their buzz pollinating technique releases pollen from blossoms that other bees can’t get access to. The pollen sticks to their hairs and they push it down into a pollen sack on their back legs. the plants are fertilized as they move from flower to flower. Bumble bees are especially proficient at pollinating tubular flowers such as tomatoes and cucumbers and are often used in greenhouses. Bumble bees have smooth stingers, can sting multiple times but don’t attack unless threatened. Only the queen burrows away in winter, then lays her eggs in spring to begin a new colony which feeds on the stored honey and pollen.
Tiny Native bees can often be mistaken for flies because they are small and may be brown, black or metallic green in colour, they may also be striped with red, orange, yellow or white which makes them more difficult to identify. They are solitary bees that get together only to mate, the female will lay her eggs and provide enough food for the larvae to eat and then leaves them to fend for themselves.
Mason Bees are solitary bees, are extremely good pollinators, and did most of the pollinating before the honeybee was introduced to Canada. They do not make honey so only search for pollen which they quickly spread from plant to plant as they move along. These solitary bees are very beautiful with bluish hairy bodies and a gentle personality. They make cocoons inside hollow plant stems where they lay their eggs. They don’t fly far from home so having an abundance of native plants that bloom in spring will be helpful to supporting this species.
Sweat Bees are solitary, ground nesting bees. They are very tiny with beautiful iridescent green heads and a black and yellow banded abdomen. They do not sting and are often confused with flies because they like to land on your skin and lick the salt from sweat.
Squash and Gourd Bees are solitary ground nesters that are extremely important for vegetable garden pollination. They look similar to a honey bee but are slightly larger and have a long tongue suitable for extracting nectar from the deep flower of gourds, pumpkins, cucumbers and zucchinis.
Carpenter Bees are solitary bees and are quite large, they look similar to bumblebees but have smooth, hairless bodies. They are often seen hovering around decks or wooden porches where they like to drill into the wood and lay their eggs in the sawdust. They can be quite destructive to decks and wooden siding but are not aggressive and rarely sting.
Leafcutter Bees are solitary bees and cavity nesters. These curious little bees cut small pieces from leaves and then roll them up to make tubes where they place pollen and eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the pollen provided for them. Leafcutter bees are very efficient pollinators because they carry the pollen underneath their hairy abdomen which spreads easily.
Mining Bees are ground dwellers and look very similar to honeybees. Their burrows are intricately connected cave systems and are packed with balls of pollen. The female lays an egg on each ball and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the pollen. Some people find them a menace because they may nest under your lawn, but they are harmless and disappear when spring is over.
Wasps such as yellowjackets, paper wasps and hornets are social insects and often nest in trees, cavities, walls or eaves of buildings. Yellowjackets can also nest in the ground and are particularly prone to stinging if their nests are disturbed. They create nests made of paper with cells inside where they lay their eggs. They are often mistaken for honey bees but do not have hairy bodies or pollen sacks on their hind legs.
Find out more by reading this amazing report:
Bees of Toronto: A Guide to their Remarkable World
Wild bees, Honey bees & Wasps
Written and photographed by Sandra Ozkur
Nearly 1/3 of human food production and 75 percent of flowering plants require insect pollination. Native bees, bumblebees, and honeybees are super pollinators, but small flies and wasps are often confused with bees and blamed for unwanted stings. It’s important to be able to tell them apart and understand their characteristics so you can attract the right kind of pollinators to your garden.
Bees often get a bad rap for stinging when in fact it was probably a wasp (yellow jacket) that was to blame. At first glance bees and wasps look similar because of their black and yellow markings, but on taking a closer look, you will see that they are very different. Observe their body shape and behavior— bees have thick bullet shaped hairy bodies whereas wasps (yellow jackets) have an elongated, hairless body with a very narrow waist and long thin legs. Bees are vegetarians and rarely sting unless threatened, whereas wasps are carnivores, are more aggressive, and if disturbed can attack multiple times leaving painful stings. Bees, on the other hand are quite docile, can only sting once then die, and do so only if their hive is threatened. Bees drink nectar for carbohydrates and eat pollen for protein whereas wasps eat insect meat for protein and drink nectar for carbohydrates. Bees carry pollen pouches on their back legs and spend their time flitting from flower to flower spreading pollen as they move. Wasps dart about and look for insect prey but spend less time in your flower patch so are not great pollinators but they will keep unwanted pests under control. Wasps are usually the uninvited guests at your picnic table whereas bees prefer to dine amongst the flowers.
You may be surprised to learn that there are over 800 native species of bees in Canada and approximately 400 of those live here in Ontario. When we talk about bees, people tend to think of honey bees, but honey bees are not native to North America, they were brought here by European settlers. Native bees have always done the majority of pollination work but their populations are diminishing due to lack of wild habitat where they can find food and reproduce.
As stewards of the planet, we can help preserve the bee populations by providing ample food sources through the planting of native plants, trees, and flowers which will provide the proper nutrition that is so important to the bees’ survival. Educating yourself about some of the main species of backyard bees can help you make better choices when choosing plants for your garden.
Bees are grouped into two categories according to their foraging (eating) behaviors. Generalist bees can extract nectar and pollen from a large range of flowers, whereas specialist bees can only forage from certain flowers suited to their diet. Their mouth parts are designed to fit into these particular flowers and their reproductive cycle is often synchronized with the blooming times of their host plants.
Generalist bees gather pollen and nectar from any plant that is in bloom, the nectar is made into honey and the pollen is fed to their brood (larvae). Honey bees and bumble bees are both generalist bees so have a better chance of survival.
Bees are also classified according to their social behavior— some are loners and some like to live with their families. Most native bees prefer a solitary lifestyle, whereas bumble bees are social and live in small colonies underground. Honey bees, being the most social of all, build large hives that can contain thousands of family members.
If you want to attract bees to your yard, try to provide the necessary habitat that will support their entire lifecycle. When the necessities of life are at hand, they will be more inclined to take up residence in your yard. Solitary native bees build their nests in burrows underground so leave some bare patches of dirt to dig into. Refrain from having a super tidy garden—fallen leaves and twigs provide protection throughout the winter so don’t rake too early in spring or you may destroy their nests. Dry plant stems and decaying logs serve as wonderful homes for many wild bees and pollinating insects. Once spring arrives, the fertilized female will emerge to gather the necessary nectar and pollen to feed her brood. This is why it is important to provide a variety of blooming plants at all times from spring until fall.
Here is a list of a few of the most common species of bees that will happy to visit your pollinator gardens:
Honey bees are generalist foragers, are very social and can search for food up to 5 km away from home. Honey bees live in hives filled with wax honeycomb that is used to house brood cells as well as honey and pollen. Only the queen lays eggs and the rest of the bees are assigned specific jobs such as gathering nectar, making honey and comb, guarding the hive, tending to the queen or brood, and cleaning or guarding the hive. Honey bees have barbed stingers and die once they sting. Their lifespan ranges from five to seven weeks but are able to hibernate throughout winter as they cluster around the fertilized queen. The hive becomes active again in the spring when the flowers start to bloom.
Bumble Bees are native bees and generalist foragers. They are social but make their nests underground to lay their eggs. They make small amounts of honey that is stored in little wax pots rather than in honeycomb. Bumble bees are large and fuzzy and have many cousins with distinct markings. Their buzz pollinating technique releases pollen from blossoms that other bees can’t get access to. The pollen sticks to their hairs and they push it down into a pollen sack on their back legs. the plants are fertilized as they move from flower to flower. Bumble bees are especially proficient at pollinating tubular flowers such as tomatoes and cucumbers and are often used in greenhouses. Bumble bees have smooth stingers, can sting multiple times but don’t attack unless threatened. Only the queen burrows away in winter, then lays her eggs in spring to begin a new colony which feeds on the stored honey and pollen.
Tiny Native bees can often be mistaken for flies because they are small and may be brown, black or metallic green in colour, they may also be striped with red, orange, yellow or white which makes them more difficult to identify. They are solitary bees that get together only to mate, the female will lay her eggs and provide enough food for the larvae to eat and then leaves them to fend for themselves.
Mason Bees are solitary bees, are extremely good pollinators, and did most of the pollinating before the honeybee was introduced to Canada. They do not make honey so only search for pollen which they quickly spread from plant to plant as they move along. These solitary bees are very beautiful with bluish hairy bodies and a gentle personality. They make cocoons inside hollow plant stems where they lay their eggs. They don’t fly far from home so having an abundance of native plants that bloom in spring will be helpful to supporting this species.
Sweat Bees are solitary, ground nesting bees. They are very tiny with beautiful iridescent green heads and a black and yellow banded abdomen. They do not sting and are often confused with flies because they like to land on your skin and lick the salt from sweat.
Squash and Gourd Bees are solitary ground nesters that are extremely important for vegetable garden pollination. They look similar to a honey bee but are slightly larger and have a long tongue suitable for extracting nectar from the deep flower of gourds, pumpkins, cucumbers and zucchinis.
Carpenter Bees are solitary bees and are quite large, they look similar to bumblebees but have smooth, hairless bodies. They are often seen hovering around decks or wooden porches where they like to drill into the wood and lay their eggs in the sawdust. They can be quite destructive to decks and wooden siding but are not aggressive and rarely sting.
Leafcutter Bees are solitary bees and cavity nesters. These curious little bees cut small pieces from leaves and then roll them up to make tubes where they place pollen and eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae eat the pollen provided for them. Leafcutter bees are very efficient pollinators because they carry the pollen underneath their hairy abdomen which spreads easily.
Mining Bees are ground dwellers and look very similar to honeybees. Their burrows are intricately connected cave systems and are packed with balls of pollen. The female lays an egg on each ball and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the pollen. Some people find them a menace because they may nest under your lawn, but they are harmless and disappear when spring is over.
Wasps such as yellowjackets, paper wasps and hornets are social insects and often nest in trees, cavities, walls or eaves of buildings. Yellowjackets can also nest in the ground and are particularly prone to stinging if their nests are disturbed. They create nests made of paper with cells inside where they lay their eggs. They are often mistaken for honey bees but do not have hairy bodies or pollen sacks on their hind legs.
Find out more by reading this amazing report:
Bees of Toronto: A Guide to their Remarkable World
