The survival of bees, which are globally recognized as the planet’s most significant group of pollinators, depends entirely on their ability to locate and utilize specific resources. What a bee “likes” is fundamentally a survival necessity, a set of biological and environmental requirements that dictate where it forages, builds its home, and finds hydration. Understanding these preferences allows for effective conservation and support of these diverse insects.
Floral Preferences: The Primary Food Source
Bees navigate the complex landscape of flowering plants by relying on a sophisticated combination of visual, olfactory, and structural signals to secure their dual rewards: nectar for energy and pollen for protein, necessary to raise their young. The visual world of a bee is vastly different from a human’s, as their eyes are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light, which reveals hidden patterns on petals. These UV patterns, often appearing as bullseyes or landing strips called nectar guides, direct the bee toward the flower’s center.
Bees show a strong preference for colors in the blue, purple, and violet spectrum, colors that are highly visible against green foliage. While they cannot perceive the color pure red, some red flowers that reflect UV light remain visible to them. This specialized vision works in tandem with the physical structure of the bloom. Different bee species have evolved varying tongue lengths, influencing their flower choice; short-tongued bees favor open, easily accessible flowers, whereas longer-tongued bees can access the nectar held deep within tubular blossoms.
Scent serves as a long-distance beacon, guiding the bee to potential resources from afar. Bees possess a highly sensitive olfactory system that detects specific volatile organic compounds released by flowers. These chemical cues, which often translate to sweet, spicy, or herbal fragrances, signal a high-energy reward. Bees can distinguish between subtle scent patterns on a petal’s surface, which act as a final, close-range guide.
The act of a bee landing on a flower can enhance the flower’s fragrance, as the bee’s tiny electrical charge stimulates the release of more scent molecules. This mechanism reinforces the flower’s attractiveness to subsequent foragers, increasing the efficiency of pollination. Once a bee begins foraging, the nutritional quality and taste of the pollen further influence whether the bee continues to visit that species, ensuring they gather the best possible provisions for their brood.
Habitat and Nesting Requirements
A bee’s home is as important as its food source, and nesting requirements are highly diverse among the tens of thousands of bee species. The majority of native bees, approximately 70%, are ground nesters, creating subterranean tunnels and brood chambers in the soil. These solitary bees require patches of bare, undisturbed earth, often in sunny, well-drained areas, to excavate their nests.
The depth and type of soil preferred can vary significantly; some species seek out well-packed clay, while others prefer loose, sandy substrates. Leaving small areas of open soil unmulched and untilled is a simple yet powerful way to support these critical pollinators. Bumblebees, which are social, are also often ground-nesters, utilizing pre-existing sheltered cavities like abandoned rodent burrows or dense tufts of grass.
The remaining 30% of native bees are cavity nesters, which build their homes above ground in pre-existing holes. These species, which include mason bees and leafcutter bees, utilize hollow plant stems, pithy canes, or beetle tunnels in dead wood. They construct a linear series of cells within these sheltered tunnels, each provisioned with pollen and an egg.
Honeybees, the most recognized social species, require a large, protected, dark cavity, such as a hollow tree trunk or a void in a structure, to build their extensive wax comb. The availability of suitable holes of varying diameters is a limiting factor for population growth. Providing a diversity of sheltered, above-ground nesting options is necessary to support this segment of the bee population.
Essential Resources Beyond Nectar
Bees require resources beyond pollen and nectar to survive and reproduce, with water being a fundamental necessity for all species. Water is used not only for drinking but also by social bees, like honeybees, to cool the hive through evaporation on hot days and to dilute thick, crystallized honey. Bees often prefer water sources that are slightly stagnant or “smelly,” as the odor may help them locate the resource.
When seeking hydration, bees must have a safe place to land to avoid drowning. Shallow dishes filled with pebbles, sand, or moss, or the edges of muddy puddles, provide the necessary footing for them to sip safely. Many solitary bees require specific building materials to construct and seal their brood cells. Mason bees, for instance, gather wet mud to separate the larval chambers within their tunnels.
Leafcutter bees utilize precisely cut pieces of leaves to wrap their individual nest cells, while resin bees collect sticky plant resins and gums to waterproof and protect their nests. Access to trace minerals and salts is another important need, which bees acquire from damp soil or slightly mineralized water sources. These non-floral resources are just as important as flowers, providing the materials for nest construction, protection, and overall physiological health.