5 Common Bees in Oregon

Learn more in "Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators."

Honey bee: Highly social – thousands of nestmates and a queen. Only bee that makes honey. Active year-round.
Bumble bee: Solitary phase: Mated queens start colonies in the spring. Social phase: 5 to 500 workers and a queen. Active January to November, depending on the species.
Mason bee: Solitary. Build nests above the ground, repurposing narrow cavities. Active April to September.
Metallic sweat bee: Solitary/communal. Digs nests in the ground. Active April to September.
Small carpenter bee: Solitary/communal. Nests in pithy twigs. Active April to September.

Want to learn more about this topic? Explore more resources from OSU Extension: Bees and pollinators

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