Utah is known as the “Beehive State” because the beehive represents hard work and industry. But beyond the symbolism, Utah is the place for a remarkable diversity of bees. In fact, our state boasts over 1,000 species of bees. To give you some perspective, southern Utah has about the same number of species as the entire east coast.
How To Identify a Bee
Beware of the bee impersonators. Here’s how to identify a bee:
- Two pairs of attached wings. The better to fly around with.
- Hairy abdomens or hind legs (if it’s a female). That’s how they carry the pollen around.
- Long tongues for getting that sweet nectar.
🐝 Did We Save the Bees?
It’s complicated. Remember in the mid-2000s when colony collapse disorder was killing mass numbers of honeybees? Well, since then, the population has skyrocketed. According to the Census of Agriculture (which is like a census for farm animals), honeybees were the fastest growing livestock in the U.S. over the last 15 years. That’s because honeybees are basically a farmed species. They’re not native to North America, and are largely used to support our agriculture industry.
Native bees are actually better pollinators than honeybees, and it’s the native bee population we should be worrying about. They’re on the decline due to climate change and loss of habitat.
🐝 How Can You Help?
Plant bee-friendly plants to help expand the local landscape and make it more pollinator friendly. Utah State University has a list of recs that include native and water-wise plants and the state provides funding to pollinate your yard via the Pollinator Habitat Program.
🐝 Surprising Bee Facts
- Most bees don’t live in hives; they prefer being solo. Classic introverts.
- Not all bees make honey. Did cartoons lie to us or was this a Mandela effect? Idk.
- Have no fear, the majority of bees aren’t aggressive and won’t sting.
Bees on the rooftop of the Salt Lake City Main Library. (Ali Vallarta/City Cast Salt Lake)
🐝 Rooftop Bee Party
On Saturday, May 17, the Salt Lake City Public Library is hosting a Rooftop Reopening Party in celebration of the newly remodeled rooftop and to welcome back the library’s famous bees to their hive. Expect a lot of buzzworthy activities!
