1. Bee ID Quiz
Please quiz yourself on recognizing if the insects presented are bees, non-bees (i.e. fly, beetle, wasp), native wild bees, or honey bees.
Each page has two questions. Go to next page for both answers.
*We have presented many of the trickier look alike insects.

2. Native Bee or Honey Bee? © Northeast Pollinator Partnership

3. Honey Bee Native Bee HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera; 1/2 - 5/8 inch) –
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera; 1/2 - 5/8 inch) –
Notice the pollen is neatly packed in a sort of ball on the back leg.
NATIVE BEE (~ 1/2 - 5/8 inch) – The Cellophane Bee
Notice the pollen is loosely packed all along back leg.

4. Native Bee or Honey Bee? © Northeast Pollinator Partnership

5. Native Bee Honey Bee Small NATIVE BEE (Ceratina sp; 1/5 - 1/4 inch)
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
Small NATIVE BEE (Ceratina sp; 1/5 - 1/4 inch)
Notice this dark bee doesn’t have as much hair as other bees. This species carries pollen internally (in the gut).
HONEY BEE (Apis mellifera; 1/2 - 5/8 inch)
This dark variety of honey bee might be confused with a native bee; look for pollen sacs on hind leg to confirm

6. Native Bee or Honey Bee? © Northeast Pollinator Partnership

7. Honey Bee Native Bee HONEY BEE (1/2 - 5/8 inch) –
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
HONEY BEE (1/2 - 5/8 inch) –
Notice pollen balls on lower back legs
NATIVE BEE Mason Bee, ~ 3/8 inch -
Notice that pollen is carried on the underside of the abdomen

8. Bee or Non-bee? © Northeast Pollinator Partnership

9. YES! NO!
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
HONEY BEE (length 1/2 - 5/8 inch) Notice the wide back (hind) legs
FLY (Eristalis tenax; ~ 1/2 inch) ) –
A tricky honey bee mimic!
This fly both sounds and looks like a bee. Note the HUGE eyes and round, narrow legs

10. Bee or Non-bee? © Northeast Pollinator Partnership

11. NO! YES! Small Syrphid FLY (1/4 - 3/8 inch) –
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
Small Syrphid FLY (1/4 - 3/8 inch) –
This family of flies feeds on nectar. These insects only have two wings and do not collect pollen.
Medium NATIVE BEE (3/8 - 1/2 inch) – A male Digger Bee (Andrena sp), notice the long antennae. Some individuals are < 1cm and others are >3/4 inch.

12. Bee or Non-bee? © Northeast Pollinator Partnership

13. YES! NO!
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
Big NATIVE BEE (Digger Bee; 1/2 - 1 inch) – Female Andrena. Note the loosely packed pollen on the hind-leg, furry abdomen, and shiny black abdomen.
Apple SawFLY (3/8 - 1/2 inch) – (Pest) Note the orange hue, black wings and narrow legs.

14. Are either of these insects a bee?

15. NO! NO!
WASP (1/2 - 3/4 inch) - Notice the narrow dark wings and shiny striped body lacking long hairs. Because of the stripes these wasps are often mistaken for bees.
HOVERFLY (Volucella sp.; > 1/2 inch) - This fly is a bumblebee mimic. Not common in apple orchards but be aware that they can be present.

16. Would you count either of these insects in your survey?
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
2011 LightColorShade

17. NO! NO!
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
2011 LightColorShade
Black SAWFLY (3/8 - 3/4 inch) – Seldom found on flowers but important to recognize gestalt.
Black FLY (1/4 - 1/2 inch) – Rarely found on apple flowers but it is good to recognize their gestalt. This is a cherry flower.

18. Are either of these insects a bee?
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership

19. NO! YES!
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
© Northeast Pollinator Partnership
Small Syrphid FLY (1/4 - 3/8 inch) – Notice the HUGE eyes, short or blunt antennae, the narrow round legs and no hair.
Small NATIVE BEE (Andrena sp; 1/4 - 3/8 inch) -
Notice the oval eyes, long antennae, and furry head
and thorax