Bees in Illinois in May
Yes, May is a good month to see bees in Illinois. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 8,738 of the 92,820 sightings logged across the year (9.4%), 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.
Good month for bees in Illinois
9.4%
of yearly sightings
8,738
records in May
#5
busiest month of 12
92,820
verified records a year
April 7.2%, May 9.4%, June 15.7%. 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, May carries 9.4% of the year's bees sightings, about 1.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 5th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is rising from April (7.2%) into May, and it heads toward June (15.7%) after. The busiest month is July (28.7%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
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 May split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in May 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 May?+
Yes. May accounts for 8,738 of the 92,820 verified bees sightings logged in Illinois across the year, which is 9.4% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bees in Illinois?+
May is the 5th busiest month. It is workable, though July and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
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