Bees in New York in August

Yes, August is one of the best months to see bees in New York. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 22,212 of the 115,774 sightings logged across the year (19.2%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

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By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 28, 2026.

Common Eastern Bumble Bee photographed in New YorkWestern Honey Bee photographed in New YorkRegular Mining Bee photographed in New York
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bees in New York

19.2%

of yearly sightings

22,212

records in August

#2

busiest month of 12

115,774

verified records a year

July 21.1%, August 19.2%, September 14.4%. Busiest month is July at 21.1%.

Best months: July, August, JunePeak season right now

115,774 verified observations of bees in New York, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bees are recorded in New York

Peak month

July

24,414 records (21.1% of the year)

Quietest month

January

43 records

MonthObservationsShare
January430%
February1020.1%
March1,3341.2%
April8,5187.4%
May13,40311.6%
Junepeak19,52616.9%
Julypeak24,41421.1%
Augustpeak22,21219.2%
September16,66314.4%
October8,3927.2%
November1,1111%
December560%

Bees you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee22,965
Western Honey Bee13,616
Brown-belted Bumble Bee7,816
Eastern Carpenter Bee7,302
Two-spotted Bumble Bee3,092
Pure Green Sweat bee2,390
Ligated Furrow Bee2,344
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee1,526

In New York, August carries 19.2% of the year's bees sightings, about 10.9 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 2nd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from July (21.1%) into August, and it heads toward September (14.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so August is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

The bees most often recorded in New York are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Western Honey Bee and Brown-belted Bumble Bee. Those counts are annual totals rather than a August split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in August itself.

Which bees you are most likely to see

  • Common Eastern Bumble Bee22,965 records
  • Western Honey Bee13,616 records
  • Brown-belted Bumble Bee7,816 records
  • Eastern Carpenter Bee7,302 records
  • Two-spotted Bumble Bee3,092 records
  • Pure Green Sweat bee2,390 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your bee trip in New York

Start with live tours near Appalachian National Scenic Trail, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bees in New York in August?+

Yes. August accounts for 22,212 of the 115,774 verified bees sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 19.2% of the annual total.

Is August a good time to see bees in New York?+

August is one of the best months. It ranks 2nd of the year and sits inside the peak window of July, August and June.

What month is best for bees in New York?+

July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 115,774 verified observations.

Which bees are you most likely to see in New York?+

The most-recorded species in New York are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Western Honey Bee and Brown-belted Bumble Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.