What types of bees are New Yorkers likely to encounter?
Bees are divided into two categories based on their nesting behavior: social bees and solitary bees. Social Bees nest in colonies and defend their nest. Solitary bees build individual nests and are generally non-aggressive. Bumble bee is the common name for any bee in a group of large (~ 1″), hairy, mostly black and yellow social bees. Approximately 50 species of bumble bees are known to exist in North America. These bees are hardy due to their heat-conserving furry coats and their ability to generate heat by shivering their flight muscles in cold weather. They are often seen flying at lower temperatures than other insects that lack these adaptations. Honey bee is the common name for any of several species of social bees known specifically for their honey-hoarding behavior. Honey bees are found in every continent except Antarctica. A healthy honey bee colony may have more than 80,000 worker bees in the summertime. Honey bees are excellent pollinators and produce honey. Beekeeping in Ne
