Types of Bees Found in Michigan and Where They Swarm

Queen Bee

Written by Alan Lemus

Published: April 22, 2023

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Bees are not the first choice of sightseeing for many people. However, there are many that spend their days and nights observing and studying bees. You are either one of them or looking to identify the bee in your house, so you can call pest services.

Let’s explore all the different types of bees found in Michigan. Learn the definition of a bee, where Michigan bees are found, and what habitat they prefer for themselves. So, let’s jump right in.

Identifying a Bee

There are around 16,000 different species of bees

There are around 16,000 different species of bees around the world.

Bees are insects with wings. There are around 16,000 different species of bees present all around the world. You might often think of bees and then a swarm of bees attacking you. However, that is not the case with all bees. Some live in colonies, while others prefer to live in solitude. 

You might often confuse a bee with a wasp, but they both are significantly different. Bees have a few unbranched hairs to which pollen clings, whereas wasps are almost always covered with hair, among other differences. Here are a few characteristics to easily identify a bee.

  • The body is divided into the head, thorax, and abdomen. The abdomen covers around 9 segments, and the thorax carries legs and wings. 
  • They have a big pair of compound eyes on their heads, which may appear disproportionate. Surrounding the compound eyes, there is a set of three smaller eyes that help them with light reflection and intensity.
  • They have a highly intricate sensory system. Being small, this highly sensitized system serves as their primary defense. They have a heightened sense of smell, taste, and touch sensations. The most interesting part of their sensory system is the mechanoreceptors. These receptors can catch the slightest change in sound nearby only through the movement of air. 
  • The other part of their defense system is the sting. This is usually present at the end of their body segments. 
  • An antenna sprouts out of the body of these bees. The segmentation may differ in both males and females. For example, the male body carries a 13-segment antenna, whereas the female body has a 12-segment antenna. 
  • Since they are mostly herbivores, their mouth is adapted for chewing and sucking. Their diet involves pollen and nectar. 

Top 8 Bees in Michigan  

Now that you know the basic characteristics of bees, let’s explore the ones habituating in Michigan. 

1. Bumblebees

The bumblebee is one of the most common bees found in Michigan

The bumblebee is one of the most common bees found in Michigan.

If you are in Michigan, these bees are one of the most common bees you will spot. They are present in the form of colonies. If you get the honor of observing their colony, you will find one queen and hundreds of worker bees on duty. 

Bumblebees are not found in the production of honey. However, they are active pollinators of the ecosystem and help in the growth of blueberries, tomatoes, and other plants. Their legs are designed to carry pollens which they gather from flower to flower. Their young also feed on these pollens. 

They are quite small and have furry little bodies with clear black and yellow stripes. They are not that aggressive but will attack you if provoked. Their stings are not that long, which is why they might attack repeatedly. However, humans are not known to have a serious reaction to their stings. Nonetheless, if you do get stung, you should consult a doctor. 

They are found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Their nests are usually located underground or up in the trees where there are holes. They do not swarm or sting until provoked. 

2. European Honeybees

A western honey bee or European honey bee can be found in northern Michigan

European honeybees or western honeybees are the most common species of honeybees, often found in northern parts of Michigan.

There are around 7 to 12 species of honeybees in the world. European honeybees or western honeybees are the most common species of honeybees. They are native to Europe and Asia. But with a greater source of pollination in the West, they are now found in the United States, as well.

The European honeybees are usually brown in color, but the shade may vary. It has a small body with a hairy thorax. 

They are not solitary animals. You will find them forming colonies and pollinating in groups, too; one of their hives hosts more than ten thousand bees. They are important both for commercial use and for the ecosystem too. They are the only type of bee that is capable of producing honey. Moreover, in the United States, they have been known to pollinate around 15 billion worth of crops.

These bees are found in the northern part of Michigan, where they help grow cherries and apples. They prefer making their nests on the ground or in logs. They swarm near their hives or honeycombs. So if you spot one, there might be a colony nearby. However, they won’t attack unless provoked. 

3. Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bee

Carpenter bees are important pollinators of the ecosystem, but are often considered to be pests.

There are two kinds of carpenter bees found in Michigan, small carpenter bees and large carpenter bees.

The large ones resemble a bumblebee but are far from it. Their bodies are similar in size to that of bumblebees, but they have a shiny black coat with a hint of yellow. As for the small carpenter bees, they are greenish-blue or blackish-blue in color. Moreover, they are narrower in width than the larger carpenter bees.

The large carpenter bees prefer to live alone, while the small carpenter bees cohabitate with other female species. The interesting thing about the small carpenter bees is that some of them are known to produce clones. These bees are important pollinators of the ecosystem. As far as their name goes, they are involved in wood-boring activities. It can become destructive over time. 

They prefer to make their nests in different wood sites and furniture. They swarm near rafters, fascia boards, siding, wooden shake roofs, decks, and outdoor furniture. They are often considered pests and are mainly found in Port Huron. 

4. Long-Horned Bees

long-horned bee

The long-horned bee gets its name from its elongated antennas.

As the name goes, they have elongated antennas. However, long antennas are mainly found in males rather than females. Their bodies are small and dark in shade. The thorax and legs are usually covered in hair. 

The most interesting thing about these bees is how they nest. The nests are created by females in the ground in small holes. However, their nests are pretty intricate and branched. Each branch carries a small home for a single bee. So, they are primarily solitary. They are also called sleeper bees because sometimes they can be found sleeping on flowers in the early morning hours. 

They are also important pollinators of the ecosystem. Mostly, they are found pollinating flowers more than they pollinate crops. Around 30 different species of this bee are found in Michigan alone. They swarm near coastal grasslands, soft cliff faces, heathland edges, woodland rides, and clearing.

5. Sweat Bees

Sweat bees can be found throughout most of Michigan

Sweat bees can be found throughout most of Michigan and as the name implies, are attracted to sweat.

These small bees are present in two distinct colors, either black or a sharp color of metallic green. Their abdomens are larger than their thoraxes, and the legs and underbellies are usually covered in hair. 

As the name goes, they are attracted to sweat. So, if you are out on an extremely hot day, your sweat will be attracting the sweat bees in no time. This is because they need salt to stay alive. However, they won’t bite you. They need salt as part of their nutrition and to gain the required minerals for reproduction. So, even if they do come near you, they will probably just lick your sweat. 

They are also important pollinators. The females carry pollen from over 20 different flowers. Their behavior is not solitary. You will find them in colonies which are present in wood mostly. Plus, the nests are guarded by the male members of the species. They are present in almost all of Michigan. You will find them swarming near fields, grasslands, roadsides, and other areas with flowers.

6. Ligated Furrow Bees

Ligated furrow bees can be found in Michigan burrows

Ligated furrow bees have hairy bodies with yellow tips at the end of the hair and can be found in Michigan burrows.

These bees have hairy bodies with yellow tips at the end of the hair. They are a type of sweat bees and are average-sized. The females are easily distinguished from the males by the presence of a tooth that is present on their cheeks. 

Their nests are usually present in dry lands which is clear of any vegetation. The queens of the colonies tend to reconstruct a new nest out of the old nesting site. This encourages the number of potential offspring for the species. 

The bees are important pollinators, but they are also quite aggressive. This is mainly because the bees wish to strike an old nesting site to build a new nest. In this battle, they often become aggressive. The nests are usually found in burrows around Michigan. You will find them swarming near dry lands. 

7. Squash Bees

Squash bee inside of a pumpkin flower

Squash bees will swarm wherever there are squash plants, using their hairy legs to transport pollen.

These bees are small in size, like that of a bumblebee, but heavier in weight. They have long antennas and round faces. Their bodies are mildly orange in color and have markings all over their bodies and hairy legs. The wings of these bees are transparent and evidently visible. 

They prefer to live alone. However, when it comes to nesting, the females may become social and construct a nest. Their nests are located near the cucurbit fields or even under these fields at times. Their nature is not aggressive. They prefer to fly away than sting you. However, they will attack if they are provoked. 

They do not just pollinate the squash flower, but you will also find them sleeping on the flowers. Their way of carrying the pollen is slightly different. They do not have bags or pouches on their hind legs. Instead, their legs are hairy enough to transport the pollen from one place to another. They will swarm wherever there are squash plants. 

8. Digger Bees

Digger bee

Digger bees received their name because of their tendency to dig holes inside the ground to grow their nests.

These bees appear as the fluffiest bees when you take a closer look. The whole body is covered in hair, and they resemble wasps. This is why they have often been killed because they were confused for wasps. Also, their bodies are quite larger in comparison with other bees. They are usually darker in the shade, either gray-brown or black in color. 

They are called digger bees because they tend to dig holes inside the ground to grow their nests. Being large in size, they are able to construct the holes with ease. They prefer to live in solitude, but they have a small neighborhood to give them company. It means that a number of nests of different digger bees are present in one place, like a union. However, in each nest, a single bee resides. 

They are not aggressive. However, they will attack if provoked. There are many studies that indicate that digger bees are better pollinators than honeybees and bumblebees. However, there is no concrete result out yet. 

These bees swarm near muddly lands where they can dig holes and build nests. There are over 70 different species of digger bees found in the United States. 


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About the Author

Alan Lemus

Alan is a freelance writer and an avid traveler. He specializes in travel content. When he visits home he enjoys spending time with his family Rottie, Opie.

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