I am looking for help identifying a bee. - Ask Extension
I have a bees nest in a bird house that I can't identify. It looks like it may be a type of bumble bee or maybe even a carpenter bee. All the bees t...
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I am looking for help identifying a bee. #870867
Asked May 30, 2024, 9:04 PM EDT
I have a bees nest in a bird house that I can't identify. It looks like it may be a type of bumble bee or maybe even a carpenter bee. All the bees that I see coming and going from this bird house don't even all look the same to me. I live in West Salem.
Thank you,
Rob
Marion County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi Robin,
I cannot identify the bees without a clear photo. I can understand your reluctance in approaching the nest closely and bugging the bees!
However, since they are nesting in a birdhouse, which is a favorite nesting site for bumble bees, I suspect that indeed you are hosting bumble bees for the summer. Here's a bumble bee identification guide from the Bumble Bee Watch.
Here's a link to a page on Bumble Bee Conservation from The Xerces Society.
I cannot identify the bees without a clear photo. I can understand your reluctance in approaching the nest closely and bugging the bees!
However, since they are nesting in a birdhouse, which is a favorite nesting site for bumble bees, I suspect that indeed you are hosting bumble bees for the summer. Here's a bumble bee identification guide from the Bumble Bee Watch.
Here's a link to a page on Bumble Bee Conservation from The Xerces Society.
I have put out some straws in a tube hoping to get some leaf cutter bees but I have not seen any activity around the bee house. Is there somewhere that I can get local leaf cutter bees cocoons? I did find a place called Crown Bees in Washington but I don't know if there bees would be native to Salem.
Thank you,
Robin Koepl
On 6/4/2024 at 1:20 AM, "Ask Extension" <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Hi Robin,
The first thing you need to do is to provide the environment in your landscape for leaf cutter bees to live. Provide food, water and shelter, they will come. OSU Extension has a wonderful publication, "Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators. This publication is full of details of what to plant for a full season of pollinator food.
Here's information on leaf cutter bees, the family "Megachilidae" from University of Florida.
Here's information from University of Minnesota on native bees, how to attract them and how to create nesting sites.
Finally, here is a more technical publication found on the Oregon State Beekeepers Association webpage, "The Bees of the Willamette Valley: A Comprehensive Guide to Genera". On page 28 of this guide is the index to the Megachilidae in the Willamette Valley. On page 66 is detailed information on them an on their identifying characteristics. I thought this would be helpful for you to determine whether or not the bees offered by Crown Bees are found in the Willamette Valley.
Just to finish overwhelming you with resources, get the book "Attracting Native Pollinators". This is a Xerces Society Guide and is in the public library system, if you would prefer to borrow. I kept borrowing it from the library, but needed it so frequently that I purchased a copy and found it well worth it.
You have an interesting adventure ahead of you. Enjoy!
The first thing you need to do is to provide the environment in your landscape for leaf cutter bees to live. Provide food, water and shelter, they will come. OSU Extension has a wonderful publication, "Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators. This publication is full of details of what to plant for a full season of pollinator food.
Here's information on leaf cutter bees, the family "Megachilidae" from University of Florida.
Here's information from University of Minnesota on native bees, how to attract them and how to create nesting sites.
Finally, here is a more technical publication found on the Oregon State Beekeepers Association webpage, "The Bees of the Willamette Valley: A Comprehensive Guide to Genera". On page 28 of this guide is the index to the Megachilidae in the Willamette Valley. On page 66 is detailed information on them an on their identifying characteristics. I thought this would be helpful for you to determine whether or not the bees offered by Crown Bees are found in the Willamette Valley.
Just to finish overwhelming you with resources, get the book "Attracting Native Pollinators". This is a Xerces Society Guide and is in the public library system, if you would prefer to borrow. I kept borrowing it from the library, but needed it so frequently that I purchased a copy and found it well worth it.
You have an interesting adventure ahead of you. Enjoy!
Thank you for your response. I ordered some leaf cutter bees yesterday from Crown Bees in Washington. I hope they are native to here. After I ordered the bees I was out side and found some tiny bees on our Ocean Spray. I don't think they were leaf cutter bees because they were so small and I have not seen any cut leaves on our roses.
Thank you,
Robin Koepl
On 7/1/2024 at 5:21 PM, "Ask Extension" <<personal data hidden>> wrote:Hi Robin,
Once you start looking for bees other than bumble bees and honey bees, it is surprising just how many there are darting around the yard.
The way to start classifying native bees is to note where on their bodies they carry pollen. This will give you the clues necessary to start narrowing the search. This Oregon Department of Ag publication, "Common Pollinators of the Willamette Valley" is super helpful in identifying native bees.
Once you start looking for bees other than bumble bees and honey bees, it is surprising just how many there are darting around the yard.
The way to start classifying native bees is to note where on their bodies they carry pollen. This will give you the clues necessary to start narrowing the search. This Oregon Department of Ag publication, "Common Pollinators of the Willamette Valley" is super helpful in identifying native bees.
