Meet our native bees

Washington's diverse environment means we have a multitude of different bee species in the state - around 600 in fact! Most of our native bees are solitary bee species, meaning each female builds her own nest, collects pollen for her offspring, and lays eggs without the help of "worker" bees like are found in honey bee colonies. Because they don't have large nests to protect, they are generally less defensive and less likely to sting than honey bees. Most nest in the ground while some nest in stems or other small holes. 

Exactly how many bee species we have in Washington is not yet known. Our Washington Bee Atlas volunteers are working hard each year to discover every bee species in every corner of the state -- as well as the plants that support them.

The first full year of volunteer bee surveys was completed in 2024 with bees being turned in to our state bee taxonomist, Karen Wright, through the beginning of 2025. It will take some time to identify and make the data on the bees publicly available. In the meantime, we invite you to explore a few of the bees we know to be in Washington using the links below. 

Use the link below to download a pdf booklet about Washington's native bees!

Professional printing

Looking for a version of this booklet for professional printing? Download the version below to send to a professional printer.

Please note, this is a large file that should only be used for professional printing. If you are looking for a digital copy of the booklet for personal use or sharing online, please use the link above. 

These fun and educational trading cards feature native bees in Washington. Look for them at outreach events staffed by Washington Bee Atlas volunteers! 

Use the link below to download a PDF of all of the cards. 

Want to print a version for at home or school? You can download a PDF version below that will allow you to print the cards on your own! The document is set up to allow you to print double-sided. If you have trouble getting the front and back sides to line up, you may just want to print the front sides and leave the back white. 

This version is intended for printing only and is not accessible. Please use the version above for a screen-reader-friendly version. 

The cards are only available at outreach events staffed by WABA volunteers. You can professionally print the cards yourself by downloading the file below and working with a professional printer. 

This educational game will test your ability to distinguish between bees and non-bees! 

Use the link below to download a PDF of the game for home-printing.