Bees in Illinois in July
Yes, July is one of the best months to see bees in Illinois. It is the 1st busiest month of the year, with 26,662 of the 92,820 sightings logged across the year (28.7%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.
Peak month for bees in Illinois
28.7%
of yearly sightings
26,662
records in July
#1
busiest month of 12
92,820
verified records a year
June 15.7%, July 28.7%, August 21.5%. Busiest month is July at 28.7%.
92,820 verified observations of bees in Illinois, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in Illinois
Peak month
July
26,662 records (28.7% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 24 | 0% |
| February | 54 | 0.1% |
| March | 778 | 0.8% |
| April | 6,674 | 7.2% |
| May | 8,738 | 9.4% |
| Junepeak | 14,534 | 15.7% |
| Julypeak | 26,662 | 28.7% |
| Augustpeak | 19,990 | 21.5% |
| September | 12,253 | 13.2% |
| October | 2,877 | 3.1% |
| November | 222 | 0.2% |
| December | 14 | 0% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Eastern Bumble Bee | 16,039 |
| Brown-belted Bumble Bee | 9,905 |
| Western Honey Bee | 8,093 |
| Two-spotted Bumble Bee | 6,737 |
| Eastern Carpenter Bee | 4,335 |
| Black-and-gold Bumble Bee | 2,872 |
| Ligated Furrow Bee | 2,348 |
| Golden Northern Bumble Bee | 2,159 |
In Illinois, July carries 28.7% of the year's bees sightings, about 20.4 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 1st busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from June (15.7%) into July, and it heads toward August (21.5%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The bees most often recorded in Illinois are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee and Western Honey Bee. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.
Which bees you are most likely to see
- Common Eastern Bumble Bee16,039 records
- Brown-belted Bumble Bee9,905 records
- Western Honey Bee8,093 records
- Two-spotted Bumble Bee6,737 records
- Eastern Carpenter Bee4,335 records
- Black-and-gold Bumble Bee2,872 records
Plan your bee trip in Illinois
Start with live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bee viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bee viewing area in Illinois.
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Broader backupBook a bee tour in Illinois
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bees in Illinois in July?+
Yes. July accounts for 26,662 of the 92,820 verified bees sightings logged in Illinois across the year, which is 28.7% of the annual total.
Is July a good time to see bees in Illinois?+
July is one of the best months. It ranks 1st of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, August and June.
What month is best for bees in Illinois?+
July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 92,820 verified observations.
Which bees are you most likely to see in Illinois?+
The most-recorded species in Illinois are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Brown-belted Bumble Bee and Western Honey Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bees in Illinois in other months
More wildlife in Illinois