![]() ![]() In the spring, bumble bee queens establish their nests in abandoned rodent holes, tree cavities, under piles of debris and sometimes under a step or even in your home’s insulation. Once you’ve determined the type of bee you have, determining the next course of action is easiest once you understand its life cycle. Although honey bees in Alberta are typically all one species there is a fair amount of variability in the coloration (i.e., there are lighter coloured honey bees and darker coloured honey bees). Honey bees are medium-sized bees with a moderate amount of hair on their thorax (middle body segment) and dark brown and light brown striping on their abdomen. Some are black with hairy bellies (an adaptation for carrying pollen), while others are shiny green or blue. Tunnel nesting bees like leaf cutter bees, mason bees, small carpenter bees, etc, are often medium-sized bees that nest in hollow stems or decaying wood. They are typically not very hairy especially compared to bumble bees, but some are very hairy! These come in all shapes and sizes, but are typically small to medium-sized bees that can be black, black with white stripes, dark or brilliant metallic green. However, there are many other types of bees in Alberta. Many of us are familiar with bumble bees as they are large, hairy and obvious. ![]() And therefore, the first step is to identify what kind of insect you have. That is very exciting! Your level of excitement might depend on the type of insect that you are dealing with. First of all, congratulations! Some sort of insect has decided to live in your yard. ![]()
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