Bees in New York in September

Yes, September is a good month to see bees in New York. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 16,663 of the 115,774 sightings logged across the year (14.4%), based on verified iNaturalist records.

T

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.

Good month for bees in New York

14.4%

of yearly sightings

16,663

records in September

#4

busiest month of 12

115,774

verified records a year

August 19.2%, September 14.4%, October 7.2%. 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, September carries 14.4% of the year's bees sightings, about 6.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 4th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.

Activity is easing off from August (19.2%) into September, and it heads toward October (7.2%) after. The busiest month is July (21.1%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.

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 September split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in September 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 September?+

Yes. September accounts for 16,663 of the 115,774 verified bees sightings logged in New York across the year, which is 14.4% of the annual total.

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

September is the 4th busiest month. It is workable, though July and August is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.

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.