Ask SAM: What kind of bees am I seeing in my yard?

Bumble bees also would be active this time of the year, Smith said, but they don’t typically display the type of “dive bombing” behavior you described. These two types of bees resemble each other, but carpenter bees can be distinguished by their shiny black abdomen. Bumble bees appear “hairy” with yellow a yellow stripe on the abdomen.

“For both species, the males are stinger-less, but they seem to make up for this lack of protection by acting more aggressive,” she said. “The females can sting, but are generally considered non-aggressive and won’t sting unless provoked.”

As for smaller bees, Smith said that honey bees are probably seeking sources of late summer wildflowers such as sumac or goldenrod, which aren’t typically found in flower gardens. To encourage more honey bees to visit the home landscape, she suggested you add some white clover to your grass seed mix in the fall. Honey bees love clover nectar, and it will bloom consistently throughout the growing season.

“There are many other types of bees in North Carolina, some of which are experiencing population declines,” Smith said. “We can all do our part to help our bee pollinators by planting native flowers, garden vegetables, and fruit trees that are rich in pollen and nectar, and protecting these food sources from pesticides. An excellent source of information is the NC State Extension publication, “The Bees of North Carolina” by Hannah Levenson and Elsa Youngsteadt.”