Bees

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Blog Posts

Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators? Carpenter bee on a purple passion flower
Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators?
Bees are a welcome site in our gardens. Without the help of bees (and other pollinators) pollinating many of our plants, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy...
photo of a sweat bee covered in pollen
Pollinators in soybean production- Are you in the know?
Did you know that more than one-third of the food humans consume depend on pollinators for reproduction, i.e., fruit set? And when talking about...
Bee on the lookout for native bees. Native bee on an orange and red flower.
Bee on the lookout for native bees this summer
Now that we’re well into May, many landscapes are full of blooming plants and the buzz of bees. When you think of bees, what comes to mind? Chances...
Feeding bees with syrup through the hive inner cover
Prepare your bees for winter
When temperatures start getting cold in late fall, it's time to make those last-minute preparations that help your bees have the best chance of...
Identifying and dealing with yellowjackets
Our Master Gardener Help Desks routinely get calls or emails about bees...
Oscar Villa, urban beekeeper, approaches his hives along the Metra tracks
Urban beekeeper's planned expansion pays off during pandemic
Approaching the hives along the Metra tracks on Chicago’s south side the smell of grass smoke intensifies as Oscar Villa, beekeeper and owner of...
cool season blooms - photo by Terrance Raper on Unsplash
Plant cool-season annuals now!
As winter slowly fades, every gardener is getting anxious for spring—to dig their hands into the dirt, smell the fresh-cut grass, and fill their...
Good and bad trending insects: pollinators and bagworms
Show of hands, please. How many did something to mark National Pollinator Week? Back in 2007...

News Releases

bees on honeycomb
HCE sponsors free presentation on bees with local Master Naturalist
YORKVILLE, Ill. – Do bees hibernate in the winter? Why is a swarm a good thing for the colony? How important is pollination for our food supply? Get answers to these and many other buzz-worthy questions in a fun, informative presentation by beekeeper and University of Illinois Extension Master...
Researchers call on backyard scientists to help save pollinators
URBANA, Ill. – Fluttering quietly and steadily from flower to bloom, butterflies, bees and other pollinators do the hard background work of fertilizing flowering plants, fruits and crops. But these unsung heroes are in danger. Studies have shown an estimated 40% of insect species, including the...
Join local beekeeper and master gardener to learn about bees and their homes
CLINTON, Ill. – Bees are important and play vital roles in our ecosystem, but what function does each bee species serve? Which bees are the best pollinators? Do bees live alone or in colonies? In what types of homes do bees reside? DeWitt County Master Gardeners are hosting an event to answer...
Small bees attracted to small flowers
URBANA, Ill. – While the bumblebee is likely the most well-known pollinator, pollinators come in a variety of shapes, species, and sizes. “Many entomologists believe the tiny sweat bee nectaring on your flowering weed is just as important to a healthy ecosystem as the more well-known...
Learn how to attract pollinators to your garden and why it is important
MONTICELLO, Ill. – About one-third of the food and beverages we consume depend on pollinators. Apples, cucumbers, herbs, watermelons, chocolate, and coffee need animals to pollinate them. Pollinators also contribute to plant and animal diversity in our natural areas. Learn how to attract...

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