North Carolina Bee School Practice Exam

Are bees native to North America?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only specific species

4. Only honey bees

The correct answer is: No

Bees are not native to North America in the sense that most of the species we commonly think of, such as the European honey bee, were introduced by early settlers. While there are indeed native bee species in North America, the honey bee (Apis mellifera), which is most widely recognized and used in modern beekeeping, originated in Europe and was brought to the continent. The presence of native species emphasizes the diversity of bees in North America, including bumblebees and various solitary bees, which evolved in the region. However, the introduction of non-native species such as the honey bee played a significant role in agriculture and ecology, facilitating pollination of crops. This distinction highlights the complexity regarding the native status of bees in North America—while there are native bees, the most commercially important species were not originally from the continent. Therefore, the appropriate response is that bees, particularly the most prominent species used in apiculture, are not native to North America.