You can absolutely purchase bees, but the process is not as simple as buying a pet or a houseplant. The decision to buy bees depends entirely on your specific goals, whether you are interested in producing honey, seeking efficient localized garden pollination, or simply establishing a new colony for education and hobby beekeeping. Understanding the biological differences between the available insect species and the physical format in which they are sold will guide your initial purchasing decisions. A well-prepared buyer must first consider the end purpose of the bee population before examining the logistical and legal steps required to house them successfully.
Varieties of Bees Available for Commercial Purchase
The most commonly purchased insects are the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), favored for its ability to produce honey and wax. Honey bee colonies are highly social, organized around a single queen, and their populations are typically managed for large-scale agricultural pollination or apiculture efforts. Their complex social structure allows the colony to survive over winter as a unit, making them a long-term investment.
Conversely, many people buy solitary species like mason bees (Osmia spp.) and leafcutter bees (Megachile spp.) specifically for localized pollination of gardens and orchards. These bees do not form large, permanent colonies or produce honey, instead focusing their energy on creating individual nests for their offspring. Solitary bees are often significantly more efficient at pollinating than honey bees on a flower-by-flower basis, making them highly desirable for targeted crop support.
A third option is to purchase bumblebees, which are often sold in small, self-contained colonies for specialized pollination environments like greenhouses. Bumblebees are known for their ability to perform “buzz pollination,” a technique that releases pollen from certain flowers, such as tomatoes, which honey bees cannot do. These colonies are generally annual and are not managed for honey production or long-term overwintering.
Understanding Bee Acquisition Formats
Honey bees are typically acquired in one of two main physical formats: packages or nucleus colonies, often called nucs. A package is essentially an artificial swarm, consisting of two to three pounds of worker bees, a container of sugar syrup for transport, and a newly mated queen housed separately in a small cage. These bees are often not related to the queen and must be introduced into a prepared hive, requiring the colony to start building comb and establishing a family structure from scratch.
A nucleus colony, or nuc, offers a faster start because it is a small, established colony typically housed on four or five deep frames. A nuc includes:
- Drawn comb
- A laying queen
- Existing brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae)
- Stores of honey and pollen
Because the queen is already accepted and laying, installing a nuc into a full-sized hive is generally less stressful and gives the colony a two to three-week head start compared to a package.
Solitary bees, such as mason or leafcutter bees, are not sold as active colonies but rather in their dormant stage as cocoons or larvae inside nesting tubes. These cocoons are stored in cool conditions and require specific timing to be placed outside for emergence in the early spring. This format allows the buyer to introduce the next generation of pollinators when local flora begins to bloom.
Necessary Steps Before Placing an Order
Before finalizing a purchase, a prospective bee owner must confirm the legality of keeping bees at their location. Local zoning laws and Homeowners Association (HOA) rules vary widely and may restrict the number of hives, require specific setbacks from property lines, or prohibit beekeeping entirely. Many states and counties also mandate hive registration, which helps authorities track and monitor for the spread of pests and diseases like the Varroa mite or American Foulbrood.
Preparation of the physical habitat must also be completed well in advance of the bees’ arrival. For honey bees, this involves purchasing and assembling the hive structure, including the boxes, frames, and foundation, as the bees cannot wait for these accommodations. Solitary bee keepers must prepare a weatherproof bee house with appropriate nesting materials before the dormant cocoons are placed out in the spring.
The purchase must be timed precisely, as bees are highly seasonal livestock, with most suppliers shipping packages and nucs only in the spring. Advance ordering is generally necessary, often starting in the late fall or early winter, to secure a delivery slot during the limited spring window. Failure to order early can result in limited availability or a delay that prevents the colony from building up sufficient stores before the subsequent winter.