Tennessee is known for its diverse wildlife, and bees are no exception.
There are many species and Types of bees in Tennessee, so there is a wide variety of bees to discover and learn about.
This blog post will provide an overview of Tennessee’s different types of bees, from solitary bees to honeybees.
We’ll also discuss each bee’s role in the ecosystem and how they benefit humans.
Whether you’re a bee enthusiast or just curious about the different types of bees in Tennessee, this blog post has something for everyone.
1. American Mourning Bee
First on the list of bees in Tennessee, The American Mourning Bee, also known as Melecta Pacifica, is one of Tennessee’s many types of bees.
This bee has a unique dark coloration and can be identified by its light-colored antennae.
The American Mourning Bee prefers to nest in crevices or burrows and can often be found in suburban areas in Tennessee. These bees are important pollinators, helping to keep the local ecosystem healthy.
2. American Bumble Bee
The American Bumble Bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) is one of Tennessee’s different types of bees. This bee is easily identifiable by its yellow and black stripes.
It usually builds its nest in grassy areas, like meadows or lawns.
The American Bumble Bee prefers to feed on flowers rich in nectar and pollen. The American Bumble Bee is important in pollinating many plants and can often be seen buzzing around wildflowers and gardens.
Because of its importance to the environment, killing these bees in Tennessee is illegal.
If you find a nest on your property, it’s best to leave it alone and observe from a distance. This bee is relatively docile compared to other species and rarely stings unless provoked.
If you are careful around the hive and keep a respectful distance, you should be safe from getting stung by the American Bumble Bee.
3. Augochlora Sweat Bee
The Augochlora Sweat Bee, or Augochlora pura, is one of Tennessee’s most common types of bees. This bee species is primarily found in woodland and suburban areas.
Its metallic green and yellow coloring gives it a distinct look from other species of bees.
It feeds primarily on pollen and nectar from flowers, and it pollinates a variety of different plants. The Augochlora Sweat Bee is an important species of bee that pollinates native Tennessee flora and fauna.
4. Bicolored Agapostemon Sweat Bee
The Bicolored Agapostemon Sweat Bee, or Agapostemon virescens, is an interesting bee in Tennessee.
These bees are small and black and have bright yellow stripes on their thorax. They can be identified by the yellow stripes extending down their body’s entire length.
These bees are important pollinators of native plants in Tennessee, as they are attracted to their sweet fragrances.
The Bicolored Agapostemon Sweat Bee will collect pollen from various flowering plants and shrubs, including vetch, clovers, and asters.
These bees live in colonies, and the female bees will construct their nests in abandoned animal burrows or other protected spaces.
The nests are made up of cells constructed from mud and plant material. Each cell contains a single egg nourished by nectar and pollen. The larvae then feed on these reserves until they mature into adults.
The Bicolored Agapostemon Sweat Bee can often be found visiting gardens and yards in Tennessee during the summer months.
They are an important part of the local ecosystem and help ensure the survival of many native plants.
5. Brown-belted Bumble Bee
The Brown-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus griseocollis) is one of Tennessee’s most commonly found types of bees.
This type of bee is large and easily identifiable, with black and yellow stripes on its thorax and a brown or orange band around the middle of its abdomen.
These bees can be seen spring through fall in gardens, fields, and woodlands across the state.
The Brown-belted Bumble Bee is an important pollinator, helping to ensure that flowers and other plants reproduce by transferring pollen between plants.
6. Honey Bee
One of Tennessee’s most common types of bees is the honey bee, Apis mellifera. These types of bees in Tennessee are Native to Europe, Africa, and Western Asia; these small insects are responsible for pollinating many of the flowers and plants in the state.
Honeybees are one of the most important pollinators, helping to ensure a healthy ecosystem.
Honey bees typically have black and yellow stripes, with a white spot on their backside. They are social insects that live in colonies containing up to 50,000 individuals.
The queen bee lays eggs in wax comb cells while other workers care for the colony. Male drones mate with the queen and help maintain the hive.
Honey bees collect pollen and nectar from flowers and plants to make their honey. They also play an important role in crop pollination, helping to increase crop yields for farmers in Tennessee.
Honey bees are essential for a healthy and balanced environment, so protecting them from pesticides and other threats is important.
7. Common Eastern Bumble Bee
The Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) is another type of bee in Tennessee. This species is the most common type of bee in the state and is easily recognizable with its distinctive yellow and black stripes.
They are large, reaching one inch in length, and have hairy bodies and long antennae. This species is an important pollinator of many crops and wildflowers, making them essential to the ecosystem.
They are generally docile and non-aggressive but can become defensive if threatened.
8. Eastern Carpenter Bee
The Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa Virginia) is one of the common types of bees in Tennessee. It is one of the largest bees in the state, measuring up to 1.5 inches in length.
The body of the Eastern Carpenter Bee is a glossy black color with yellow or white markings on its face and thorax.
This species of bee nests in dead wood, usually creating galleries by chewing through softwoods. They are important pollinators of oaks, blueberries, huckleberries, and brambles.
9. olden Northern Bumble Bee
The Golden Northern Bumble Bee (Bombus fervidus) is a species of bee found in the state of Tennessee. This type of bee is usually black and yellow, with distinctive yellow stripes on its abdomen.
It is generally considered a social bee, living in colonies of up to a few hundred individuals. It can be found foraging for food on various flowers and other flowering plants in the wild.
The Golden Northern Bumble Bee is an important pollinator, helping to spread pollen from one plant to another.
10. Leaf-cutter Bee
The Leaf-cutter Bee (Dianthidium spp.) is a type of bee that is found throughout the state of Tennessee. It is a solitary bee species, meaning each bee lives alone and builds its own nest from leaves and other plant material.
They are important pollinators for various flowering plants, including vegetables and fruit trees.
Tennessee bees are active during the day and can often be seen foraging in gardens and around flowers.
While these bees have stingers, they are generally not aggressive toward humans and should not be feared.
11. Long-horned Bee
Tennessee is home to many species of bees, including the Long-horned Bee (Melissodes spp.). These solitary, ground-nesting bees can be found throughout Tennessee and are important pollinators in the state.
The long-horned bee is dark metallic green and brown with long antennae almost as long as their bodies. They prefer open habitats such as sunny fields, roadsides, and meadows.
The Long-horned Bee has a longer tongue than most bees, allowing them to access deeper nectar and pollen sources.
They are an important part of Tennessee’s ecosystem, helping pollinate various plants and providing a valuable food source for other wildlife.
12. Mason Bee
Mason bees are some of the most common types of bees in Tennessee. These solitary bees pollinate many of the state’s wildflowers, fruits, and vegetables.
Mason bees have a longer flight range than honeybees, making them great pollinators. They also require less space than other bee species, making them a great choice for smaller gardens.
Mason bees make their nests out of mud and plant fibers, which makes them easy to spot in nature.
13. Miner Bee
Miner bees, also known as Andrena spp., are Types of bees in Tennessee. These bees typically make their nests in the ground and dig tunnels to lay their eggs.
They are important pollinators of plants and flowers, helping to keep ecosystems healthy. Miner bees are small, black or brown, and can be found throughout Tennessee.
14. Northern Golden Bumble Bee
The Northern Golden Bumble Bee (Bombus fervidus) is one of Tennessee’s different types of bees. It is known for its distinctive yellow and black coloring and the fact that it is one of the most efficient pollinators in the world.
This bee is important for the environment, as it helps to spread pollen from plant to plant, helping to ensure the successful growth of plants in the area.
It is also a great food source for other animals, as it is an important part of the ecosystem.
15. Small Carpenter Bee
Tennessee is home to many bee species, including the small carpenter bee. These bees in Tennessee can be found all across the state and can be seen buzzing around on sunny days in search of nectar and pollen.
The small carpenter bee is one of the most common types of bee in Tennessee and is typically black or dark brown. It usually measures about 0.5 inches long and has yellow markings on its thorax and abdomen.
These bees in Tennessee are solitary insects, meaning they typically live alone and only come together to mate. They are also important pollinators, helping to spread pollen from flower to flower.
This type of bee nests in pre-existing holes or cavities, such as those made by wood-boring beetles. They feed on the nectar and pollen of flowers, particularly those found in gardens, fields, and meadows.
The small carpenter bee can benefit gardeners, farmers, and nature lovers. Because they help pollinate flowers, they help ensure a healthy ecosystem. They also help keep pests at bay as they prey on other insects like aphids.
However, their nesting habits can damage structures like houses, decks, and barns if left unchecked. If you find these bees damaging your property, several methods are available to control them.
16. Agapostemon Sweat Bee
The Agapostemon Sweat Bee is one of Tennessee’s most common bees. These small and colorful insects are members of the Halictidae family, which includes over 3000 species worldwide.
Agapostemon Sweat Bees are found throughout the state, especially in gardens, parks, and other areas where flowering plants grow.
They typically have a green and yellow striped body with a metallic sheen and feed on pollen and nectar from various plants.
These bees are important pollinators in Tennessee, helping maintain the local ecosystem’s health.
17. Sweat Bee
Sweat bees are a type of bee in Tennessee primarily present during summer. They belong to the family Lasioglossum and are relatively small, ranging from 4-12 mm long.
Sweat bees are known for gathering sweat from human skin to obtain minerals and salts, which is where they get their name from.
They are also common pollinators of plants and flowers, making them a vital part of Tennessee’s ecosystem.
18. Tricolored Bumble Bee
The Tricolored Bumble Bee (Bombus ternarius) is commonly found in Tennessee. This species is easily identified by its yellow and black stripes, as well as its white head.
It is often seen foraging on flowers for nectar and pollen, especially clover and goldenrod. They can also be found buzzing around bushes and shrubs.
The Tricolored Bumble Bee is native to the state and plays an important role in pollinating plants. They are social insects living in colonies of up to 500 individuals made up of workers, queens, and drones.
In the late summer, the colony will start producing new queens who will leave the nest to mate and then overwinter.
These bees in Tennessee are considered beneficial due to their role in pollinating plants. But they are also important predators, helping control populations of other insects that may harm plants.
Unfortunately, their numbers have declined in recent years due to habitat loss and pesticide use. Efforts are being made to help protect them, such as restoring habitats and limiting the use of pesticides.
If you spot a Tricolored Bumble Bee in your garden or nearby park, don’t disturb it. Let it go about its business of pollinating and helping to maintain balance in the ecosystem.
19. Two-spotted Longhorn Bee
Finally, on the list of types of bees in Tennessee, the two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus) is found in Tennessee. A solitary bee prefers open, sunny habitats such as grasslands, gardens, and roadsides.
The two-spotted longhorn bee is a small bee with a black body and white hair on its head and thorax. Its most distinctive feature is the two black spots on its back.
These bees are important pollinators of many crops and wildflowers in Tennessee. They can be found throughout the state from mid-April to late August.
