• Native Illinois species are organisms that were present before settlement of the area by people of European descent.
• Bees are insects of the Order Hymenoptera along with wasps, ants and some other relatives.
• The hymenopterans have four, thin wings (if present), two long antennae and mouthparts for chewing.
• Female hymenopterans may have an egg-laying structure that is modified into a sting.
• Their life cycle includes four stages: egg; larva; pupa; and adult. Fertilized eggs produce females. Males develop from unfertilized eggs.
• Bees are different from the other members in the Order Hymenoptera because they have branched hairs (plumose hairs) on some part of their body. Most bees are covered with hairs, but some species have more hairs than others.
• Bumble bees, carpenter bees, plasterer bees, cuckoo bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees, sweat bees and mining bees are types of native bees in Illinois.