NatiNatiI lveve l i n o Be Be i s eses Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Danny Brown Photo © Danny Brown Photo © Danny Brown Photo © Danny Brown Photo © Johanna James-Heinz Photo © Johanna James-Heinz Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder

leafcutter latimanus plasterer bee (male and female) sp. Xylocopa virginica rusty-patched bumble bee Bombus affinis Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Michael R. Jeffords Photo © Michael R. Jeffords Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder

leafcutter bee Megachile mendica bee sp. common sunflower bee (male) Melissodes agilis American bumble bee Bombus pensylvanicus Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Michael R. Jeffords Photo © Michael R. Jeffords Photo © Barbara Williams Photo © Barbara Williams

sleepy bee sp. Osmia georgica sunflower bee helianthi red-belted bumble bee Bombus rufocinctus Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Michael R. Jeffords Photo © Michael R. Jeffords Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder

sweat bee pruinosum sweat bee sp. common eastern bumble bee Bombus impatiens Xeromelecta interrupta Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Chris Helzer Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder Photo © Rob Curtis/The Early Birder

green sweat bee metallica sweat bee (female/male) virescens sweat bee Dufourea marginata sweat bee Halictus ligatus

ees are that are very important to life on earth. Their work This poster as provides for the existence of many plant and Species List/Key to Photos was made possible by: in turn, all terrestrial , including humans. There are approx- Kingdom Animalia Illinois Department of imately 400 to 500 species of that are native to Illinois. Phylum Arthropoda Natural Resources Class Insecta mason bee Osmia georgica Division of Education Because there are so many native bee species, their habits are Order leafcutter bee Megachile latimanus varied. They live in wetland, woodland, grassland and urban habitats. Family leafcutter bee Megachile mendica There are solitary, communal, semisocial and eusocial bees, as well as the plasterer bee Colletes sp. cuckoo bee Coelioxys sp. University cuckoo bees that are nest parasites and rely on other bees to raise their young. Family sleepy bee Anthidium sp. of Illinois B sunflower bee Family Pollinatarium Some bees live in the ground. Others use existing holes in hollow stems, dead Family carpenter bee Xylocopa virginica wood and rock crevices for nest sites or excavate holes in wood to form a sweat bee Halictus ligatus cuckoo bee Xeromelecta interrupta chamber for their eggs. Like most other pollinators, native bee populations are sweat bee Halictus sp. rusty-patched bumble bee Bombus affinis green sweat bee common eastern bumble bee Bombus impatiens Illinois Native Bees © 2016, Illinois in decline not only in Illinois but worldwide. Habitat loss, pesticide use, mites, sweat bee American bumble bee Bombus pensylvanicus Department of Natural Resources competition from nonnative species and diseases are killing pollinators. Each of sweat bee Lasioglossum pruinosum red-belted bumble bee Bombus rufocinctus sweat bee Dufourea marginata common sunflower bee Melissodes agilis Bees are not shown in equal proportion to us can take actions that can benefit pollinators, including native bees. actual size. I l l i n o i s

WhatWhat areNati are Bees?Bees? IllinoisIllinoisve NativeNative BeesBeesBees ees are insects. As such, theyNati have three body segments: head; thorax; and abdomen. They have six ativeve Illinois species are organisms that were present before settlement Be of the area by people of es Blegs, and most insects have two pairs of wings. NEuropean descent. These organisms developed over a long period of time and depend upon each other. Within the huge number of species in the Class Insecta, the bees are classified in the Order There are about 400 to 500 species of native bees in our state. They live in close association with plants Hymenoptera along with , and some other relatives. Hymenopterans have wings that are thin, and receive and nectar from many of them. In the process, they act as pollinators for these plants. and if present, there are four wings. The forewing is a little larger than the hind wing. Their two antennae What is pollination? It is the process of transferring the plant’s male reproductive cells (pollen) to the plant’s Photo © Danny Brown (for touch and smell) are relatively long and segmented. Females may have an egg-laying structure that is female reproductive structures (stigma and style) so that sperm and egg can meet resulting in a new plant. Photo © Danny Brown modified into a sting. They have mouth structures that allow for chewing. Their life cycle includes four Not all plants need to be pollinated by an , but many of them do. Do the bees purposely pollinate stages: egg; larva; pupa; and adult. Fertilized eggs produce females. Males develop from unfertilized eggs. the plants? No. They are interested in feeding upon the sweet nectar produced by the flowers and also in Bees are different from the other members in the Hymenoptera because they have branched hairs (plumose hairs) on some part of their body. Most bees are covered with hairs, but some species have more collecting some of the pollen to mix with nectar to feed their young. While doing so, pollen from the hairs than others. flowers’ male reproductive structures falls on them, getting trapped in the bee’s hairs. When they visit the There are so many different kinds of bees that it is hard to describe characteristics that apply to all of next flower, some of the pollen may drop off of the bee onto the female flower structures. There will still be them. In the United States alone there are more than 4,000 kinds of bees. It is estimated that 400 to 500 plenty of pollen attached to the bee for it to use as food. types of bees live in Illinois, but at this time, no one knows the exact number. For -based pollination to work, the plants must bloom when their pollinators are active, and the Not only are there are a lot of bees, but there are also other insects that resemble bees. In particular, pollinators must be adapted to the structure of the flowers. Bees are not the only animals that are pollinators, some flies and wasps look a lot like bees until you examine them closely. Here are some tips for identifying but they are the only ones that we will discuss here. There are short-tongued bees that feed best on flowers that bees in comparison to wasps and flies. There are exceptions to every trait, though. are flat. Other bees have long tongues and specialize in visiting tube-shaped flowers that have nectar too deep for short-tongued bees to reach. Some bees have the ability to slit a flower to reach the nectar at its base. There Bee are bee species that are most active in spring, and others that develop later in the year. Some examples of native thick body with division between thorax and abdomen easy to see bees are bumble bees, carpenter bees, cuckoo bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees, sweat bees and mining bees. four wings Illinois is home to some nonnative bees, too. The most well-known example is the , Apis no silver hair on face hairs present mellifera. It was brought to this country by settlers from Europe. Some honey bees escaped from captivity pollen-collecting hairs on legs or abdomen of females and established their own colonies in the wild. Native bees were pollinating plants long before the honey bee stocky legs arrived, and native bees continue to pollinate more plants than honey bees, although honey bees are very long, slender antennae important to agriculture. eyes on side of head Bumble bee with pollen trapped on its legs. narrow body with very thin waist four wings silver hair may be present on face usually no or few hairs no pollen-collecting hairs on legs or abdomen of females spindly, long legs NestingNesting long, slender antennae eyes on side of head ees must have a place to lay their eggs where their larvae and pupae can develop safely. They construct work together to raise their young with the colony only lasting one year. The mother and her offspring Fly Bnests to raise their young. Some bees nest in the ground. They often choose a bare, sunny spot and dig do not inhabit the colony at the same time. Eusocial bees live in a single nest with the inhabitants sharing broad connection between thorax and abdomen a tunnel to raise their young. About 30 percent of native bees nest in holes. The mason and leafcutter bees the reproductive and nest-making functions. These bees include a mother and her daughters in a complex two wings use existing holes in hollow stems, dead wood and rock crevices for nest sites. Carpenter bees excavate holes system. Cuckoo bees are nest parasites and rely on other bees to raise their young. no silver hair on face in wood to form a chamber for their eggs. Other locations may be used as bee nesting sites, too. In the nest, a mixture of pollen, nectar and saliva is formed into loaves. Each egg is provided with a hairs may be present Solitary native bees make and care for their own nest. They may live with other bees of their own kind pollen loaf in a single cell. Mud, leaf pieces and sawdust are all types of materials used to build partitions no pollen-collecting hairs on legs or abdomen of females nearby (aggregations), or they may prefer to be away from all other bees. Communal bees are solitary bees between cells. When the larva emerges from the egg, it feeds on the pollen loaf until it is time to enter the short antennae that use a single entrance to the nesting site, but each bee digs its own nest from that point. Semisocial bees pupa stage. legs thin eyes facing forward and may touch each other Photos © 2016, IDNR CommonCommon IllinoisIllinois BeesBees StingingStinging although they may feed on flower nectar from a variety of plant species. Dufourea are solitary and nest in the ground. They are active from March through September. llustrated on the front of this poster are 20 species of bees that are native to Illinois. They are representative ees, some wasps and ants have the ability to sting. The sting structure is a modified ovipositor, or of the following families and genera of bees. Except where otherwise noted, all of them can be found egg-laying structure. In the stinging insects, the eggs are deposited from the base of the sting instead of I Family Megachilidae - leafcutter bees B statewide. The descriptions below include general characteristics that can help to identify these animals in the The bees in this group are very common. Their body tends to be cylindrical with some yellow and black through it as in a regular ovipositor. Only females have a sting structure. They use it for defense. The sting field, but please be aware that many bees are difficult to identify without close examination of traits such as markings. Females carry pollen under their abdomen instead of on their legs. Many of these bees nest in wood can be used multiple times in all bees, ants and wasps except for the nonnative honey bee. The honey bee’s wing venation and leg structures. It is beyond the scope of this poster to provide that amount of detail. For but also take advantage of various human-built structures, too. They may have large jaws and some of them sting has barbs that anchor in the animal being stung. When the female honey bee flies away, the sting is more information about identifying bees, use some of the resources listed in the “Bibliography” section of have special pollen-collecting structures for use in tube-shaped flowers. pulled from her body. this poster. Also, the months of activity for the bees described below may vary due to nectar availability, People generally only get stung by a bee if they step on it, pick it up or if gets tangled in their clothing. temperature and other factors. Osmia spp. Bees do not seek people out to attack them. You can stand quietly watching bees at flowers with no These solitary bees (about one-tenth to about five-eighths inch) are important pollinators for the agricultural problems unless you are disturbing the bees. Honey bees and bumble bees may defend their nest, so you Family Colletidae - plasterer bees industry. For example, blue orchard bees () pollinate plums, cherries and apples. Individuals Colletes spp. have a metallic sheen of copper, blue-gray, purple or metallic green or blue. Each body section is more or less should avoid those areas if you know a nest is present. Ground-nesting yellow jacket wasps (Vespula spp.) These small- to medium-sized bees (about one-fourth to nearly three-fourths inch) live in grassland, spherical in shape. They are active from March to August. Some build a nest of mud, thus the name mason do sting readily and should be avoided. Bees are often blamed for the actions of these wasps. woodland, wetland and urban areas. They are active from April through September. Their abdomen is black bee. Most use an empty cavity for their nest. with yellow stripes. They carry pollen in a basket on the hind legs. The tongue is short and forked. These are Megachile spp. solitary bees that nest in the ground, often close to the nest of other bees of this species. They may nest in The leafcutter bees paper their nest with pieces of leaves. They are solitary bees with large jaws that nest in wood the same area for many years. They use their tongue to paint the walls of the nest cells with saliva and then and other cavities. Body coloration is gray to black often with white abdominal stripes. The body is stocky and add a waterproof coating produced in the abdomen, giving rise to their common names of plasterer, fairly hairy, about one-fourth to three-fourths inch long. These bees are active from April through September. cellophane or polyester bees. Coelioxys spp. Family Andrenidae – mining bees These bees are fairly easy to recognize by their black thorax, pointed abdomen and sometimes red legs and/or Andrena spp. red abdomen. The size range is about one-fourth to three-fourths inch long. They are active from April ConservationConservation Mining bees are usually red-brown or brown-black and fairly small (one-fourth to about five-eighths inch). through October. Coelioxys bees are cuckoo bees. They parasitize other bee species, leaving their eggs for the Their thorax and abdomen may be hairy. They have a short tongue. Most members of this group are solitary. host to raise. The majority of bees in this group parasitize bees of the Megachile. The pointed abdomen ike most other pollinators, native bee populations are in decline not only in Illinois but worldwide. The females make nests in soil burrows and lay eggs in specialized cells that are usually coated with a is used to cut through the leaf pieces surrounding the walls of the host species’ nest cells. The Coelioxys bee Habitat loss, pesticide use, mites, competition from nonnative species and diseases are killing pollinators. protective waterproof substance produced in the abdomen. Mining bees start flying very early in spring lays an egg that hatches very soon. This larva then uses its sharp jaws to destroy the host’s egg or larva. L and are important pollinators of spring flowers. They are active from March to September. As an example, let’s look at bumble bees. They require three types of habitat to complete their life cycle. Anthidium spp. They need a suitable area for nesting (such as an abandoned rodent burrow). They need a site for These species (about one-fourth to three-fourths inch) can be found in all of Illinois except the northern Family Halictidae - mining bees and sweat bees overwintering (like mulch or rotting logs). They also need an abundance of native wildflowers for food one-fourth. They have black and yellow coloration. They are active from April through September. They are This family of bees is very large. Its members tend to nest in soil or rotting wood. All of them have a from spring through fall. If any of these requirements can’t be met then the bumble bees must move to a solitary and nest in tunnels that already exist in a variety of habitats. Females gather fuzz from plant leaves to short tongue. new location that is more suitable, live the best they can in a marginal habitat or die. Habitat loss is a major line their nest cells and make the partitions between cells. Sometimes, males especially, they defend their factor in the decline of native bees, but the addition of the other factors mentioned in paragraph one of this Halictus spp. flower source. Unlike most bees, the males are larger than the females. poster section makes survival more challenging. These medium-sized (one-fourth to one-half inch long) bees are known as sweat bees. They have a brown Pollinators are vital to the continued existence of most plant species, the production of agricultural crops or black body with distinct bands of yellow or white on the abdomen. The head is longer from front to back Family Apidae - honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, squash bees, cuckoo bees than on many bee species with a good amount of space behind the eyes. They nest in soil. The daughters This group of bees contains many species. They are hairy, large bees with a variety of color patterns. Most of and in effect to terrestrial life on earth. Each of us can take actions that can benefit pollinators, including remain with the mother helping to expand the nest and raise additional offspring throughout the nesting them nest in the ground. Some nest in cracks or burrows. All of them have a long tongue. native bees. season. They are active spring through fall. • Plant native plants. A good pollinator garden has native plants that attract and support native Xylocopa spp. bees and other pollinators at all stages of their life cycle. Included should be flowers that provide pollen Augochloropsis spp. Carpenter bees are among the largest bees in Illinois (about three-eighths to one inch). The wings are and nectar from early spring through late fall. Add flowering trees. Use plants with flowers of varying Usually metallic green or metallic blue, these small- to medium-sized bees (one-fourth to about one-half dark-colored. Some of these insects have yellow on the thorax. They nest in wood, chewing holes to make shapes. Add bunch grasses to the planting for nest sites for ground-nesting bumble bees. inch) feed on nectar and the honeydew of aphid colonies. They are active April through September and nest the nest cavity. They are active from April through September. One way to tell the difference between a • Set your mower to mow at a higher level. Leave dandelion flowers and in spring for bees that are communally in soil. bumble bee and a carpenter bee is to look at the abdomen. The carpenter bee has fewer hairs on the abdomen so that it appears shiny. active early. Agapostemon spp. • Provide habitat for bumble bees. Coloration in these medium-sized bees (one-fourth to one-half inch long) varies somewhat. The thorax is Xeromelecta spp. • Buy organic and locally produced food. green in males and females, and the abdomen is green in many females. Males have a black-and-yellow striped There are only six species worldwide in this group of cuckoo bees that mainly is associated with deserts. Three • Join citizen-science efforts to track bumble bee populations, such as the BeeSpotter program of the abdomen. Other abdominal colors for females include red-and-white striped and black. They are most active of those species live in the United States. In Illinois, they can be found in the northwestern and central parts University of Illinois. April through October. The nest is built in the ground, and they do not nest in aggregations. of the state. They are parasites of digger bees. The antennae are thick, and the thorax has bumps. Body color • Provide shelter and overwintering areas for pollinators. varies from black to black with white stripes on the abdomen. Lasioglossum spp. • Use chemicals only when necessary and use the least toxic chemical options. These small- to medium-sized bees (from about one-eighth inch to one-half inch) are known as sweat bees. Bombus spp. • Save some dead limbs or logs in your yard or garden for native bees to nest in. Conserve snags, brush They have a glossy, semi-metallic appearance on the thorax and sometimes the abdomen. Some of them have Bumble bees are eusocial bees. They nest in the ground, among leaves on the ground or in piles of wood. piles and pithy stemmed plants. a red abdomen. There are short hairs on the abdomen, and the antennae are placed high on the head. They These large (about three-eighths to one inch) bees have yellow hair on the head, thorax and abdomen. • Build a native bee nesting box. are generally active from February through October. Because this grouping includes so many types of bees, The abdomen can have other colors, too. They are active from March to September. • Provide bare patches of soil for ground-nesting bees. a broad spectrum of nesting behaviors is exhibited. Communal, semisocial, eusocial and parasitic nesting Melissodes spp. • Develop a woodland, prairie, pond or wetland habitat. behaviors are used by various members of the group. They nest in the ground or rotting wood. Active July through October, these small- to medium-sized bees (about one-fourth to three-fourths inch) are • Educate others about wildlife habitat issues. Dufourea spp. seen often on sunflowers and asters, although some of the species visit flowers of other plant families. Males • Encourage land managers to increase native wildlife habitat. Ranging from about one-fourth inch to about one-half inch in length, these bees are black to metallic blue. have long antennae. Most of the species in this group are solitary, ground-nesting bees, but some nest in • Support conservation efforts for wildlife, such as the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund. Found statewide in Illinois, these are specialist bees. They collect pollen only from specific types of plants, aggregations and a few are communal. • Leave dead plant materials over winter including the stems and seed heads.

EducationalEducational ResourcesResources BibliographyBibliography • The Illinois Field Trip Grant can provide funds to allow teachers to take their students on a field Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Education trip to study native bees/pollinators. https:// www. dnr. illinois. gov/ education/ Pages/ grants. aspx Colla, S., L. Richardson, and P. Williams. 2012. Bumble bees of the eastern United States. The Pollinator • The ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) training program • The Illinois Insects and Spiders resources trunks are available for loan from locations statewide. https:// www. Partnership, San Francisco, California. 103 pp. for teachers and other educators provides participants with background information in the topic, the dnr.illinois.gov/education/Pages/ItemsForLoan.aspx Deem, L. 2016. ENTICE Illinois native bees. University of Illinois, Urbana. Presentation. opportunity to work with resources professionals, participation in hands-on activities and supplemental, • IDNR publications may be accessed at https:// www. educational resources that allow for instant implementation of the topic into the curriculum. Professional dnr. illinois. gov/ publications. Eaton, E. R. and K. Kaufman. 2007. Kaufman field guide to insects of . Houghton Mifflin Development Hours from the Illinois State Board of Education are available at all ENTICE workshops. • Lessons, video podcasts and other information may be Company, New York. 392 pp. Workshops on native bees, pollinators and developing schoolyard wildlife habitat are offered regularly. found at https:// www. dnr. illinois. gov/ education. Mader, E., M. Shepherd, M. Vaughan, S. Hofman Black, and G. LeBuhn. 2011. Attracting native pollinators. Visit https:// www. entice work shops. com for the ENTICE workshop schedule and to register. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts. 372 pp. • The Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant provides funding for teachers and youth-group leaders to implement University of Illinois Pollinatarium or enhance a wildlife habitat area on the school grounds or other public place. https:// www. dnr. illinois. • The University of Illinois Pollinatarium is the first Moisset, B. and S. Buchmann. 2011. Bee basics: an introduction to our native bees. U.S.D.A. Forest Service gov/ education/ Pages/ grants.aspx free-standing science center in the nation devoted to and The Pollinator Partnership, San Francisco, California. 40 pp. flowering plants and their pollinators. http://www.life. Wilson, J. S. and O. Messinger Carril. 2016. The bees in your backyard. Princeton University Press, Photo © Adele Hodde, IDNR illinois. edu/pollinatarium/ Photo © Adele Hodde, IDNR Princeton, New Jersey. 288 pp. • BeeSpotter is a citizen-scientist program that educates Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. and people about pollinators by having them collect data Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion or other non- about honey bees and bumble bees. http://www. life. merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source’s civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271; 217/785-0067; TTY 217/782-9175. illinois. edu/ pollinatarium/ page4. html Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois 12,005 - 11/16 IOCI 0202-17