Native Bees vs Honey Bees: Differences and Why Both Matter

Origins

The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, originated in Africa, Europe and western Asia. European settlers brought it to North America in the 1600s for honey and wax. Native bees evolved here over millions of years alongside native plants. The U.S. Geological Survey notes more than 4,000 native bee species live in the United States.

Side-by-side comparison

The key differences:

How native bees live

Most native bees are solitary. A single female builds a nest, provisions it with pollen and nectar, lays eggs and dies before her offspring emerge. About 70 percent nest in the ground, digging tunnels in bare soil. Others, like mason and leafcutter bees, nest in hollow stems or old beetle holes in wood. Bumble bees form small annual colonies, often in abandoned rodent burrows. The USDA Forest Service's Bee Basics guide describes these life histories in detail.

Pollination strengths

Honey bees are generalists and work well in large monoculture crops because they can be moved in huge numbers. Many native bees are more efficient per visit on certain crops. Bumble bees buzz-pollinate tomatoes, peppers and blueberries by vibrating flowers to shake out pollen, something honey bees cannot do. Squash bees specialize in squash and pumpkin flowers. Mason bees are excellent orchard pollinators in early spring.

• Bumble bees: tomatoes, blueberries, peppers
• Squash bees: squash and pumpkins
• Mason bees: apples, cherries, almonds
• Honey bees: almonds and many large crops

Who makes honey

Only honey bees store large amounts of honey that people can harvest. Bumble bees store tiny amounts in wax pots for their colony. Stingless bees in the tropics make honey too; our article on stingless bee honey covers them. Most native bees feed their young a ball of pollen and nectar and store no honey at all.

Why some native bees are declining

Habitat loss, pesticides, disease and climate change affect native bees. Some bumble bees, like the rusty patched bumble bee, have declined sharply and are listed as endangered. Because native bees are not managed, there is no beekeeper to replace lost populations.

Do honey bees compete with native bees

In some places, large numbers of honey bee hives may compete with native bees for flowers and could spread diseases. Scientists are still studying how much this matters. Keeping hives near crops and abundant forage, and planting more flowers, helps reduce competition.

How to help native bees

Plant native flowers that bloom from spring to fall, leave bare soil for ground nesters, leave dead stems standing over winter, avoid pesticides on blooms, and let some clover bloom in your lawn. A simple bee hotel of drilled wood or bamboo tubes can host mason bees if cleaned or replaced regularly.

How to help honey bees

Support beekeepers by buying honey, plant flowers, provide water and avoid spraying blooms. Our article on does buying honey help bees explains how honey sales support beekeepers.

Identifying bees in your garden

Honey bees are golden brown with striped abdomens and carry pollen in baskets on their back legs. Bumble bees are larger and fuzzy with yellow and black bands. Sweat bees are small and often metallic green. Mason bees are dark blue-black. Many native bees are tiny and easy to overlook.

Both bees, one landscape

A garden with diverse flowers supports both honey bees and native bees. Each visits different flowers at different times, and together they pollinate more effectively than either alone.

Honey from honey bees

The honey in every Al Safa jar comes from honey bees managed by our partner farm. Taste Raw Wildflower Honey and Raw Clover Honey, harvested in New York State.

The takeaway on native bees vs honey bees

Native bees vs honey bees: one managed honey maker brought from Europe compared with thousands of mostly solitary native species. Both pollinate our food. Native bees need flowers and nesting habitat; honey bees need flowers and beekeepers.

Celebrate the honey bee

Enjoy the work of honey bees with the Pure Raw Honey Sampler. Save with a 3 jar or 6 jar pack of any honey, and orders over $50 ship free. Visit our shop.