
How much do the Bees of Tennessee support each year?
The bees of Tennessee support over $119 Million in crops per year Check out all the ways we can help you. At Tennessee Bees our first and foremost priority are the bees.
How many species of bees are native to the United States?
How many species of native bees are in the United States? There are over 20,000 known bee species in the world, and 4,000 of them are native to the United States. They range from the tiny (2 mm) and solitary Perdita minima, known as the world’s smallest bee, to kumquat-sized species of carpenter bees.
What is tennesseebees all about?
Preserving and supporting the bee community. So What Are We All About? The mission of TennesseeBees is to protect and preserve one of Tennessee’s most valuable agricultural assets. The bees of Tennessee support over $119 Million in crops per year
What is the purpose of the Tennessee Honey bee apiary program?
The honey bee is the official state agricultural insect. Honey bees perform a pollination function that is essential to the propagation of many species of plants in Tennessee. The mission of the Apiary program is to protect this valuable resource. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture maintains beekeeper registration files,...

How many species of bees are in Tennessee?
14 Types of Bees in Tennessee!
What state has the largest population of bees?
In terms of real estate, and in spite of the large drop in the number of colonies, California is still one of the best places to live like a bee. They have by far the largest number of colonies, as they are the only state in the US to have more than 1 million colonies.
Does Tennessee have bees?
In Tennessee, the honey bee is the official state agricultural insect. Healthy and productive colonies of bees not only produce more honey, they also provide better pollination for our nation's food supply.
What kind of bees are there in Tennessee?
Common Bees, Wasps & Hornets in Eastern TennesseeBald-Faced Hornet.Bumblebee.Carpenter Bee.Cicada Killer Wasp.Honey Bee.Mud Dauber.Paper Wasp.Velvet Ant Wasp.More items...
What states have no bees?
Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Oregon each have zero or close to zero American bumblebees left, according to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity and Bombus Pollinators Association of Law Students.
How many states have no bees?
The species has completely vanished from eight states, including Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Idaho, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Oregon, Ben Turner reports for Live Science.
How many beehives are in Tennessee?
400 hivesWell-Traveled Tennessee Bees “We currently have about 400 hives and are expanding yearly with help from TDA's TAEP [Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program] grant program,” Otto says.
Is Tennessee known for honey?
Due to the warm weather and a great variety of pollinator-friendly plants, Tennessee is an ideal place for honeybees to produce a diverse range of honeys.
Are the murder Hornets in Tennessee?
'Murder hornets' don't live in Tennessee... but these large European hornets do!
What are the giant bees in Tennessee?
Carpenter bees are a large species of bee commonly found in Middle Tennessee. They range in size from ½ to 1½ inches in length. Their abdomen is black and shiny. Males are orange and black and females are completely black.
Do fat bees sting?
Once past this first line of defense, you now can be in a position where it could end with you getting stung. Female carpenter bees can sting but are reluctant to do so as they will only do so if directly provoked while protecting their nests.
Are European hornets in Tennessee?
European hornets, also known as giant hornets or brown hornets, originally came to New York from Europe in the 1800s. Now these hornets are found from the eastern seaboard all the way to the eastern Dakotas and south to New Orleans—which means residents in Tennessee have to deal with them, too.
What is the purpose of honey bees in Tennessee?
The honey bee is the official state agricultural insect. Honey bees perform a pollination function that is essential to the propagation of many species of plants in Tennessee. The mission of the Apiary program is to protect this valuable resource. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture maintains beekeeper registration files, ...
Why are bee colonies healthy?
Healthy productive colonies of bees not only produce more honey, they also provide better pollination for our nations food supply. Proper pollination yields larger, more uniform shaped, marketable fruits and vegetables.
What is a pollination list?
The Pollination list is provided so that growers can find beekeepers that would like to supply their colonies to pollinate crops. Beekeepers and growers should prepare a pollination contract to understand what is expected from both parties. On the registration cards is a sentence toward the bottom that reads, “Would you like to rent your bees for pollination of crops?” If you answer “No”, your name will not appear on the Pollination List. If you answer “Yes”, your name, address, county, telephone number, and the number of colonies you have available will appear on the Pollination List. Each year in the fall, a list is made from registered beekeeper records that include all of this information for the beekeepers willing to offer their pollination services. The list is sent to County Extension Agents; university extension faculty that works with fruits and vegetables; and the list is passed out at the Tennessee Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association meeting held annually. This reflects the Department of Agriculture's efforts to partner beekeepers and the fruit and vegetable growers together for their mutual benefit.
Do beekeepers have to quarantine fire ants?
The letter stated that beehives should be inspected for imported fire ants prior to movement and no ants should be moved with the hives (or any other items in contact with the ground) from quarantined areas to non-quarantined areas. A USDA booklet “ Beekeepers: Don’t Transport Imported Fire Ants ” was included with the letter. Copies of the booklet can be obtained from this office.
How much pollen does a honey bee collect?
Honey bees now help pollinate many U.S. crops like fruits and nuts. In a single year, one honey bee colony can gather about 40 pounds of pollen and 265 pounds of nectar. Honey bees increase our nation's crop values each year by more than 15...
Where are native bees found?
The Buzz on Native Bees. Bees are nearly ubiquitous, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. Wherever there are insect-pollinated flowering plants — forest, farms, cities and wildlands — there are bees. And just because you don’t see plants blooming, does not mean that there are no bees around.
Do bees feed on both nectar and pollen?
Bees feed on and require both nectar and pollen. The nectar is for energy and the pollen provides protein and other nutrients. Most pollen is used by bees as larvae food, but bees also transfer it from plant-to-plant, providing the pollination services needed by plants and nature as a whole. Learn more: USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring...
Do native bees occur on every continent on the planet?
Native bees occur on every continent except Antarctica. Wherever there are insect-pollinated flowering plants—be it in forest, farms, cities, and wildlands—there are bees. And just because you don’t see obvious blooming plants, that does not mean that there are no bees around. Look down! Those tiny flowers that you see on some plants are also...
What is the role of native bees in the United States?
About 75% of North American plant species require an insect—mostly bees—to move their pollen from one plant to another to effect pollination. Unlike the well-known behavior of the non-native honeybees, there is much that we don’t know about native bees. Many native bees are smaller in size than a grain of rice. Of approximately 4,000 native bee...
Why are pollinating bats, birds, bees, butterflies, and other animals important?
Do you enjoy a hot cup of coffee, a juicy peach, an-apple-a-day, almonds, rich and creamy dates, a handful of plump cashews, or vine-ripened tomatoes? Do you enjoy seeing the native flowers and plant s that surround you ? If so, you depend on pollinators. Wherever flowering plants flourish, pollinating bees, birds, butterflies, bats and other...
What are the crops that bees pollinate?
Crops that they pollinate include squash, tomatoes, cherries, blueberries, and cranberries. Native bees were here long before European honeybees were brought to the country by settlers (honeybees are not native to North America).
How often do apiaries need to be registered in Tennessee?
These apiaries are required to be re-registered every 3 years.
What happens if you don't register your bees?
What can happen if you do not register your bees or your apiary? Failure to register you bees or comply with the provisions of “The Apiary Act of 1995” may result in the confiscation your bees, beekeeping equipment and a $500.00 fine.
Why do you need to register your bees?
Registering your bees helps to protect your bees and your neighbor’s bees in the case of an American Foulbrood (AFB) outbreak or other regulatory pest.
What happens if you destroy bee colonies?
If your colonies have to be destroyed due to American Foulbrood or other regulated pest or disease you will be compensated if they are registered. There is no indemnity paid for the loss of unregistered bee colonies.
