Florida hosts over 300 native species of bees, ranging from tiny, specialized native pollinators to managed agricultural workhorses. This diverse collection plays a significant role in maintaining the state’s natural ecosystems and supporting its vast agricultural industry.
Common Bee Species Found in Florida
The most frequently encountered bee in Florida is the non-native European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), which is primarily managed by beekeepers for honey production and crop pollination. These social insects live in large, permanent colonies and are recognizable by their reddish-brown and black striped abdomens with sparse hair. While they are crucial for agriculture, they are not naturally occurring in the state.
Florida also supports five species of native Bumble Bees (Bombus spp), which are easily identified by their large, robust bodies covered in dense, fuzzy hair. The Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) performs a specialized action called buzz pollination that is highly effective for certain flowering plants. Unlike honey bees, only the new queen survives the winter to establish a new, annual colony in the spring.
The Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa spp) is often mistaken for a bumble bee due to its size and yellow-and-black coloring. Carpenter Bees are solitary insects that bore holes into wood to create nesting galleries for their young. The easiest way to distinguish them is by their abdomens; the carpenter bee’s is shiny, smooth, and mostly hairless, while the bumble bee’s is entirely covered in hair. The state also harbors smaller, specialized varieties, such as the ground-nesting Sweat Bees (Halictidae) and the Leafcutter Bees (Megachilidae).
Telling Bees Apart from Wasps and Hornets
Distinguishing a bee from a wasp or hornet is important. Bees generally have a stout, rounded body structure and are covered in branched, fuzzy hair, which helps them collect and transport pollen. Their legs also tend to be thicker, sometimes featuring specialized pollen-carrying structures called scopae.
Conversely, wasps and hornets typically possess a more slender, elongated body that features a distinct, narrow connection between the thorax and the abdomen. Their bodies are smooth and shiny, lacking the dense hair of the bee, and they are carnivorous, preying on other insects to feed their young. Wasps can sting repeatedly without dying, whereas the common honey bee can only sting once due to its barbed stinger.
Understanding the Africanized Honey Bee
The Africanized Honey Bee (AHB) is established in Florida, particularly in the southern regions. These bees are a hybrid of the European honey bee and a more defensive African subspecies, but they are virtually indistinguishable from their European relatives without laboratory analysis. They are slightly smaller, but a visual identification is unreliable.
The primary difference lies in their behavior, which is defensive rather than inherently aggressive. When an AHB colony is disturbed, they mobilize a much larger number of defenders than their European counterparts. They will pursue a perceived threat for much longer distances, sometimes up to a quarter mile, and deliver multiple stings.
If attacked, the recommended action is to run in a straight line, covering the face and airways, and seeking the enclosed shelter of a building or vehicle immediately. Hiding in water or under thick vegetation is ineffective, as the bees will simply wait for the threat to emerge. Because AHBs often nest in unusual places like water meters or utility boxes, any suspected feral hive should be reported to a professional for removal.
The Ecological Importance of Florida’s Bees
Florida’s bees support both the state’s native flora and its agriculture sector. Many of the state’s most valuable crops rely on insect pollination, including blueberries, watermelons, cucumbers, and specialty citrus varieties like tangelos. Pollinators contribute to the productivity of these crops, with some dependent on bees for up to 100% of their yield.
Beyond commercial crops, native bees are important for the health of Florida’s natural ecosystems. Native species, such as the Southeastern blueberry bee, are more efficient at pollinating native plants than the non-native honey bee because of co-evolutionary relationships. These wild pollinators operate across a wider range of weather conditions and contribute to the reproductive success of diverse native flora.