One of our beautiful bumble bees in Eden (photo by Linda Lawless LaStayo). (Click to enlarge)

Here’s to Our Native Bees. We Can’t Live Without Them!
By Linda Lawless LaStayo - 28 March 2026

Even though we live in the “Beehive State,” honeybees are not native to Utah. However, Utah is home to over 1,000 species of native bees making it the most diverse state in the United States for pollinators. Most of our native bees are solitary, nest in the ground, and rarely sting. Here in Ogden Valley, we can commonly see many distinct types of native bees in our garden ranging from as tiny as 2mm to our large fluffy bumble bees. The most common native bees around us are sweat bees, mason bees, leaf-cutter bees, and bumble bees. Native bees are crucial for pollinating Utah’s native plants, orchards, and gardens, so supporting them is one of the most important things an individual can do for our local environment. Here is what the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) recommends for supporting native bees in our community:
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• Plant Native Species: Utilize plants adapted to Utah, such as penstemon, asters, globemallow, and blanketflower. Group flowers in large, sunny, 3-foot by 3-foot patches to attract pollinators.
• Provide Nesting Habitat:
  • Ground Nests: Leave areas of bare, sunny, undisturbed soil for ground-nesting bees.
  • Tunnel Nests: Leave dead, woody snags, or plant pithy-stemmed shrubs (like raspberry or roses) for stem-nesting bees.
  • Solitary Bee Hotels: Install bee houses with small, cleanable tubes. These can be purchased or homemade and are incredibly fun to watch.
• Eliminate/Reduce Pesticides: Avoid herbicides and insecticides, especially on blooming plants. If you must apply them, do so in the evenings or early morning when the bees are in their home and carefully avoid flowers. It is best to use granular products rather than sprays or powders to be more accurate with the application. Granules are also less likely to stick to a bee. Always opt for products that are labeled “safe for bees”.
• Leave the "Weeds": Dandelions and clover are early-season food sources for native bees. 

 
There are many benefits of planting a pollinator garden with native plant species in The Ogden Valley including helping to mitigate flooding and erosion, promoting biodiversity, and even supplying food for other wildlife. Native plants are adapted to the regional environment and require less water and no fertilizer plus they are beautiful!

Linda Lawless LaStayo is the owner and beekeeper of 3 Queens Apiary. She lives and keeps her bee-Utah-ful honeybees in Liberty.