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<h1>Wild Bees Can Help Honey Bees—How Your Yard Can Support Them</h1>
 <p>By now we&rsquo;ve all heard that domesticated honeybee populations continue to decline, endangering our food systems. Although farmers have come to rely on imported species of domesticated honeybees, hardier wild bees do some of the work, too. There are 4,000 native bee species in North America. They support natural ecosystems by keeping a healthy diversity among pollinators. But even they are facing threats. Here&rsquo;s how to be a backyard beekeeper for wild bees.</p>  <h3>Regions most at risk for native bee loss</h3>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <p><figure><img src="/wp-content/uploads/imports/a8a3886f87f04226994aa3d816afc4bd.jpg"></figure></p>  <p>Including native plants in your garden and yard will help provide habitat and sustenance for bees year round. By researching which native plants are most helpful to bees, you can plan a garden that is beneficial to their seasonal needs.</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <h4><strong><figure><img src="/wp-content/uploads/imports/06c777297f3e4dcab64e76f7b955c50a.jpg" style="float: right; "></figure>REGION 1</strong></h4>  <p><em>Local Species:</em></p>  <p><strong>Miner Bees</strong></p>  <p><em>Active Season:</em></p>  <p>June&ndash;July</p>  <p><em>Select Plant Food:</em></p>  <p>Mariposa Lily</p>  <p><em>Status:</em></p>  <p>Rare, Uncertain</p>  <p><em>Nesting:</em></p>  <p>Underground</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <h4></h4>  <h4><strong><figure><img src="/wp-content/uploads/imports/a5169e662ccf41e49c80434bc909f411.jpg" style="float: right; "></figure>REGION 2 <br></strong></h4>  <p><em>Local Species:</em></p>  <p><strong>Western Bumble Bee</strong></p>  <p><em>Active Season:</em></p>  <p>April&ndash;September</p>  <p><em>Select Plant Food:</em></p>  <p>Rubber Rabbit Brush</p>  <p><em>Status:</em></p>  <p>Rare, In decline</p>  <p><em>Nesting:</em></p>  <p>Cavities</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <h4></h4>  <h4><strong><figure><img src="/wp-content/uploads/imports/54e59807883945e0abffdbfd927e1c8e.jpg" style="float: right; "></figure>REGION 3</strong></h4>  <p><em>Local Species:</em></p>  <p><strong>Sonoran Bumble Bee</strong></p>  <p><em>Active Season:</em></p>  <p>June, September&ndash;October</p>  <p><em>Select Plant Food:</em></p>  <p>Goldeneye</p>  <p><em>Status:</em></p>  <p>Uncommon</p>  <p><em>Nesting:</em></p>  <p>Cavities</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <h4><strong><figure><img src="/wp-content/uploads/imports/569b5f3f73b24449a0e9f35baccd2842.jpg" style="float: right; "></figure>REGION 4</strong></h4>  <p><em>Local Species:</em></p>  <p><strong>Eastern Carpenter Bee</strong></p>  <p><em>Active Season:</em></p>  <p>April&ndash;October</p>  <p><em>Select Plant Food:</em></p>  <p>Lupine</p>  <p><em>Status:</em></p>  <p>Secure</p>  <p><em>Nesting:</em></p>  <p>Wood</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <h4><strong><figure><img src="/wp-content/uploads/imports/83f7b82802ea4497bd3a19e6d159cc15.jpg" style="float: right; "></figure>REGION 5</strong></h4>  <p><em>Local Species:</em></p>  <p><strong>Bicolored Sweat Bee</strong></p>  <p><em>Active Season:</em></p>  <p>April&ndash;October</p>  <p><em>Select Plant Food:</em></p>  <p>Sunflower</p>  <p><em>Status:</em></p>  <p>Secure</p>  <p><em>Nesting:</em></p>  <p>Underground</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <h3>Don&rsquo;t forget:</h3>  <p><figure><img src="/wp-content/uploads/imports/9840dc9c54b948a49aac2194d5674367.jpg"></figure></p>  <h4>Create sites for nesting</h4>  <p>Seventy percent of native bee species nest in the ground. Clear patches of bare ground or create small sand pits for bees to nest in. Other species of bees nest in the beetle-bored cavities of dead wood. Leave pieces of dry wood in sunny places and drill small holes if there are no existing cavities.</p>  <h4>Avoid pesticides</h4>  <p>Most insecticides and some fungicides and herbicides are harmful or lethal to bees. Be careful when purchasing seeds and bulbs. Many are grown with systemic pesticides called neonicotinoids, which will remain in the pollen of the plant and harms all bees.</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>  <p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org">Yes! Magazine</a> at <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/sanctuary/2017/05/26/how-your-yard-can-support-wild-bees">https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/sanctuary/2017/05/26/how-your-yard-can-support-wild-bees</a>.</p><link href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/sanctuary/2017/05/26/how-your-yard-can-support-wild-bees" rel="canonical"/><p>Yes! Magazine is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of ... . Learn more at <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org">Yes! Magazine</a></p><img id="republication-tracker-tool-source" src="https://www.yesmagazine.org/?republication-pixel=true&post=15231&ga4=G-74QJNNY44Z" style="width:1px;height:1px;">

Wild Bees Can Help Honey Bees—How Your Yard Can Support Them
 By now we’ve all heard that domesticated honeybee populations continue to decline, endangering our food systems. Although farmers have come to rely on imported species of domesticated honeybees, hardier wild bees do some of the work, too. There are 4,000 native bee species in North America. They support natural ecosystems by keeping a healthy diversity among pollinators. But even they are facing threats. Here’s how to be a backyard beekeeper for wild bees.  Regions most at risk for native bee loss       Including native plants in your garden and yard will help provide habitat and sustenance for bees year round. By researching which native plants are most helpful to bees, you can plan a garden that is beneficial to their seasonal needs.     REGION 1  Local Species:  Miner Bees  Active Season:  June–July  Select Plant Food:  Mariposa Lily  Status:  Rare, Uncertain  Nesting:  Underground       REGION 2   Local Species:  Western Bumble Bee  Active Season:  April–September  Select Plant Food:  Rubber Rabbit Brush  Status:  Rare, In decline  Nesting:  Cavities       REGION 3  Local Species:  Sonoran Bumble Bee  Active Season:  June, September–October  Select Plant Food:  Goldeneye  Status:  Uncommon  Nesting:  Cavities     REGION 4  Local Species:  Eastern Carpenter Bee  Active Season:  April–October  Select Plant Food:  Lupine  Status:  Secure  Nesting:  Wood        REGION 5  Local Species:  Bicolored Sweat Bee  Active Season:  April–October  Select Plant Food:  Sunflower  Status:  Secure  Nesting:  Underground     Don’t forget:    Create sites for nesting  Seventy percent of native bee species nest in the ground. Clear patches of bare ground or create small sand pits for bees to nest in. Other species of bees nest in the beetle-bored cavities of dead wood. Leave pieces of dry wood in sunny places and drill small holes if there are no existing cavities.  Avoid pesticides  Most insecticides and some fungicides and herbicides are harmful or lethal to bees. Be careful when purchasing seeds and bulbs. Many are grown with systemic pesticides called neonicotinoids, which will remain in the pollen of the plant and harms all bees.

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