Types of Bees in Tennessee | Bee ID Guide
Bees in Tennessee: Quick Facts
Bees are essential pollinators and most are gentle, stinging only to defend themselves or their nest. Problems come when colonies settle in the wrong place: honey bees in a wall, carpenter bees in your eaves, or ground bees in a busy lawn.- Common species: Honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, and ground-nesting bees
- Most likely to sting: Honey bees defending a hive
- Most damaging: Carpenter bees, which bore into wood
- Swarm season: Spring, usually April through June
Common Bees in Tennessee
Honey Bees
Golden-brown with darker bands and a fuzzy thorax, about 1/2 inch long. They live in colonies of thousands and can build a large hive inside a wall, attic, or hollow tree.
Bumble Bees
Large, very fuzzy, black and yellow. They nest in the ground, under decks, or in old rodent burrows, and their colonies die off in fall. See our bumble bee guide.
Carpenter Bees
Look like bumble bees but have a shiny, mostly hairless black abdomen. They drill perfectly round holes in wood. See our carpenter bee guide.
Ground Bees
Several small, solitary bees, such as mining bees and sweat bees, dig individual burrows in bare soil, leaving small mounds in lawns. They’re gentle and rarely sting.
Bees vs. Wasps
Bees are fuzzy and plump and carry pollen. Wasps, including yellow jackets, are smooth, shiny, and slender-waisted. Yellow jackets are often mistaken for bees, but they’re far more aggressive. See our wasp and hornet guide.
Honey Bee Swarms
In spring, a honey bee colony may split, and thousands of bees leave to find a new home. They often rest in a large cluster on a branch, fence, or wall for a few hours to a couple of days.- Swarms are usually calm: The bees have no hive to defend yet. Keep your distance and keep pets and kids away.
- Don’t spray them: A swarm is valuable to beekeepers and can often be collected alive.
- Act before they move in: If the swarm starts entering a wall, soffit, or chimney, call right away.
Honey Bees in Walls
An established colony inside a wall or ceiling needs more than killing the bees. Hives hold wax comb and honey, sometimes many pounds of it. If the bees die and the comb stays, it can melt, leak through drywall, attract other pests, and cause odors. The colony, comb, and honey need to be removed, and the space sealed so a new swarm doesn’t move in.
Bee Stings
- What happens: Sharp pain, then redness, swelling, and itching around the sting. Swelling can spread several inches and last a few days.
- First aid: Move away from the nest. Scrape out a honey bee stinger with a fingernail or card, wash the area, apply a cold compress, and elevate it. An antihistamine can help with itching.
- Call 911: For trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat, hives spreading over the body, dizziness, or fainting. Use an epinephrine auto-injector if one has been prescribed.
- Also get care: For many stings at once, a sting inside the mouth or throat, or a sting that shows signs of infection.
How to Prevent Bee Problems
- Seal gaps in siding, soffits, vents, and chimneys, especially in early spring
- Paint or stain exposed wood to discourage carpenter bees
- Fill old rodent burrows and holes in the yard in winter
- Keep an eye on hollow trees and sheds near the house
- Plant pollinator gardens away from doors and patios
When to Call a Professional
Call for bees nesting in walls, attics, or chimneys, swarms entering a structure, carpenter bee damage, or ground nests in high-traffic areas. See our bee removal service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of bees are common in Tennessee?
Honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, and several ground-nesting bees such as mining and sweat bees.
What should I do if a bee swarm lands in my yard?
Keep your distance and keep pets and children away. Swarms are usually calm and often move on within a day or two. Call if they start moving into your home.
Why can’t bees in my wall just be sprayed?
Killing the bees leaves behind comb and honey, which can melt, leak, attract other pests, and cause odors. The hive needs to be removed and the space sealed.
How can I tell a carpenter bee from a bumble bee?
Carpenter bees have a shiny, mostly hairless black abdomen. Bumble bees are fuzzy all over.
Are ground bees dangerous?
Most solitary ground bees are gentle and rarely sting. Yellow jackets also nest in the ground, though, and they’re aggressive, so identify the insect first.
