When you see bees in your garden, you likely see primarily European honeybees, who are crucially important to the Central Valley's agriculture since honeybees pollinate 90% our almond crop. 

With their complex social structure and “waggle dance” to inform hive members where food sources are located, honeybees are fascinating creatures.

But honeybees are not the only bees flitting about the flowers on our crops and in our gardens in search of nectar. There over 4,000 species of bees in California.  

Other Bees

Native bees play an important role in pollinating our plants also.  Native bees are 200 times more efficient at pollination than honeybees. Studies in the Central Valley have shown three dozen or more native bee species provide sufficient pollination services on a single farm.  For example, pollinating an acre of apples requires 60,000-120,000 honeybees; the same area can be pollinated by 250-750 Mason bees.

There are over 1,600 species of native bees in California. Unlike honeybees and Bumble bees, most are solitary in nature, and do not produce honey or wax for consumption by others. In North America, only the European honeybee and Bumble bees build hives and live in colonies.

There are 3 basic types of bee nesting:

• Ground nesting bees, which make up 70% of bees. Mining bees are an example of these.
• Stem and wood nesting bees, such as leaf cutter bees or mason bees, make up another 30% of bees.
• Colony nesting bees, such as honeybees and bumble bees make up less than 1% of all bees in North America.

Bees are in Trouble

Bees are facing many challenges these days due to loss of habitat, pesticides, diseases and infections, invasive species, and climate change.

Some ways you can help:

• Plant a garden full of flowering plants to attract bees and other important pollinators. Make sure you have something bloom during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.
• If you use a pesticide, choose one that is less toxic such as a horticultural soap or oil.  
• Provide a space for nesting bees, with bee houses and bare patches of soil.

Upcoming Bee Talk

As a Master Gardener I have learned so much about bees and can talk about them all day. I am doing an upcoming talk for Modesto Junior College's Science Colloquium, a free, STEM-based speakers' series. If you are as interested in bees as I am and want to learn more about these vital, complex creatures, I hope you will come (parking is also free). I will be discussing bees' anatomy, their life cycle, honeybees' social structure, myths about bees, other bees we find in our area, different nesting habits, why bees are in trouble, how we can help which will include listing some plants for your garden that will attract bees.

Date: Wednesday, September 14
Time: 3:15 – 4:15pm
Location: Modesto Junior College West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave., Science Community Center in room 115

Denise Godbout-Avant has been a Master Gardener in Stanislaus County since 2020.