The Habitat of Bees

Dead Trees

• Dead trees are an ideal habitat for certain types of bees. Mason bees, blue orchards and leaf cutters, for example, build their nests in dead trees. The mason bee builds small chambers in the dead wood for each egg. Bees that live in dead trees are commonly found in wooded areas or around homes.

Underground

• Some bees, such as the bumble bee, live in nests underground. These nests can be found in meadows, pastures and orchards or in holes in rock walls. Bees tend to make their underground nests from abandoned rat or bird nests, but the plasterer bee, for example, builds its nest in soil burrows.

Man-Made Structures

• Many bees will build nests wherever they can find shelter. Certain man-made structures, such as patios, attics and roof beams provide ideal shelter for bees to build nests. Bumble bees, honey bees and killer bees are three types of bees that are commonly found in man-made structures around the world. Killer bee nests are sometimes found in tires, abandoned cars and crates.

Soft Wood

• Carpenter bees are blue-black in color and tend to inhabit soft wood. This type of bee tunnels into soft wood to lay its eggs, hence the name, carpenter. The tunnels can reach up to 10 feet in length and have small rooms where the bees can store their eggs and food.

Wooden Nesting Houses

• Wooden nesting houses are made specifically to house bees and help maintain them in our ecosystem. Some bee houses are constructed to protect bees from predators, such as woodpeckers and squirrels. Mason bees, plasterer bees and leaf cutters generally adapt well to wooden nesting houses.