07/31/2026
Meet the bee with the longest antennae! 🐝✨
Say hello to the Long-horned Bee (tribe Eucerini):
🐝 These bees run about 1–2cm long, thanks to their antennae. On the males especially, they can stretch nearly as long as the bee's entire body. Why? Those long antennae help them pick up on pheromones and find their way around, kind of like their own built-in compass.
🐝 Unlike honey bees, long-horned bees don't live in hives. They're ground nesters — females dig their own little burrows and stock them with pollen and nectar for their young.
🐝 If you want to see more of them buzzing around, plant a variety of native flowers that bloom throughout the season. Give them options and they'll show up.
🐝 Sadly, like a lot of our native bees, they're dealing with habitat loss, pesticides, and a changing climate. Small gardens and native plantings really do help.
So next time you spot a bee with unusually long antennae, don't panic — just give it some love. It's out there doing its best. 🐝❤️
📸: Bob Peterson
