The selection of an official state insect often highlights a species recognized for its significance within a region. Maine’s designated insect, the Honey Bee, reflects the state’s deep connection to its natural and agricultural resources. This choice formally acknowledges the functional role this insect plays in the state’s environment. The official insect is the Western Honey Bee, known scientifically as Apis mellifera.
Identifying Maine’s Official State Insect
Maine’s official state insect is the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera. This species is distinguished by its reddish-brown to yellow coloration, often exhibiting black bands and orange-yellow rings across its abdomen. Worker bees, which are sterile females and the most numerous caste, measure between 10 to 15 millimeters in length. They possess two pairs of wings and have a body covered in fine, branched hairs, which aids in pollen collection.
The Apis mellifera colony structure is a eusocial system centered around a single queen, who is the only fertile female. The queen bee is noticeably larger than her counterparts, reaching lengths of up to 20 or 25 millimeters. Male bees, called drones, are present in smaller numbers and are characterized by stouter abdomens and larger compound eyes. Worker bees are equipped with specialized structures, including a pollen basket (corbicula) on their hind legs, used to carry pollen back to the hive.
The Legislative Process and Designation
The Honey Bee was designated as Maine’s state insect in 1975 through a legislative act. The state legislature passed a law to solidify the insect’s status as a state symbol. The decision was driven by the bee’s acknowledged importance to the state’s economy and agricultural sector.
The legislative action, known as Public Law 1975, Chapter 271, placed the designation within the state’s statutes. This provided the Honey Bee with a permanent place among Maine’s other state emblems. The designation reflected a growing awareness of the insect’s contributions, particularly its function as a managed pollinator. Legislative adoption of the Honey Bee is common across the United States.
Ecological and Economic Importance in Maine
The Honey Bee’s designation is primarily a recognition of its functional value to Maine’s agricultural landscape. The species is a source of commercial pollination, which is crucial for the state’s major fruit crops, including apples, cranberries, and blueberries. Lowbush blueberry production is heavily reliant on managed bees, with tens of thousands of honey bee colonies brought into the state specifically for this purpose.
The contribution of honey bee pollination is estimated to provide between $100 million and $150 million annually to the Maine economy. This economic valuation underscores the insect’s role in maintaining the viability of farming enterprises and orchards. While native bee species also contribute to pollination, the managed nature of Apis mellifera colonies makes them the workhorse for ensuring adequate fruit set and maximizing crop yields.
Beyond its pollinating services, the Honey Bee is also the source of local honey production, supporting a community of beekeepers across the state. The registration of hives is a regulated practice in Maine, highlighting the state’s investment in managing and protecting this livestock. The Honey Bee’s role extends from the wild blueberry barrens of Downeast Maine to local apiaries.