MEET THE POLLINATORS
Hummingbirds are nature’s high-speed couriers, sipping nectar and spreading pollen while moving faster than your camera can focus. Beauty, brains, and a beak full of purpose. Meet the birds ➜
BEES
Bees come in over 4,000 flavors in North America alone—from bumble to mason to the tiny sweat bee. They’re the MVPs of pollination. Meet the bees ➜
BIRDS
SIDEKICKS
Moths, beetles, flies—these low-key pollinators may not win popularity contests, but they’re out there working the night shift and cleanup crew. Just because they’re not flashy doesn’t mean they’re not vital. Meet the sidekicks ➜
BUTTERFLIES
Pollination isn’t their main gig, but butterflies still help out—gracefully flitting from flower to flower like it’s a garden runway. Bonus: they look amazing doing it. Meet the butterflies ➜
BEES 🐝
Bees are some of the hardest-working pollinators. Some live in big hives, while others live alone. Michigan is home to over 450 types of bees—but here are some of the most common and unique ones you might spot.
HONEY BEE
(Apis mellifera)
Honey bees are famous for making honey and living in large colonies. They’re not native to Michigan but have been here for hundreds of years.
From: Europe
Color: Fuzzy, yellow and black
Sting?: Yes — females can sting once, and only if provoked (then they die)
Living Style: Social; large hives of 10,000–60,000 bees in tree hollows or man-made boxes
BUMBLE BEE
(Bombus impatiens)
Bumble bees are big and fuzzy, and they vibrate flowers to shake pollen loose. They’re one of the most common native bees in Michigan and love wildflowers.
From: Native to Michigan
Color: Fuzzy, yellow and black with rounded bodies
Sting?: Yes — can sting more than once if threatened
Living Style: Social; colonies of 50–500 bees in underground burrows
CARPENTER BEE
(Xylocopa virginica)
Carpenter bees drill tunnels into wood to make their nests. They look like bumble bees but have shiny black abdomens and are mostly gentle.
From: Native to Michigan
Color: Black with a yellow fuzzy upper body
Sting?: Females can sting but usually don’t; males can’t sting
Living Style: Solitary; nests in wood tunnels
LEAFCUTTER BEE
(Megachile spp)</