Bees in Ohio in May
Yes, May is a good month to see bees in Ohio. It is the 5th busiest month of the year, with 9,913 of the 98,269 sightings logged across the year (10.1%), 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 Ohio
10.1%
of yearly sightings
9,913
records in May
#5
busiest month of 12
98,269
verified records a year
April 10%, May 10.1%, June 15.4%. Busiest month is July at 23%.
98,269 verified observations of bees in Ohio, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in Ohio
Peak month
July
22,613 records (23% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 34 | 0% |
| February | 161 | 0.2% |
| March | 1,842 | 1.9% |
| April | 9,822 | 10% |
| May | 9,913 | 10.1% |
| Junepeak | 15,151 | 15.4% |
| Julypeak | 22,613 | 23% |
| Augustpeak | 18,418 | 18.7% |
| September | 14,652 | 14.9% |
| October | 5,103 | 5.2% |
| November | 521 | 0.5% |
| December | 39 | 0% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Eastern Bumble Bee | 16,038 |
| Western Honey Bee | 12,236 |
| Brown-belted Bumble Bee | 8,987 |
| Eastern Carpenter Bee | 8,653 |
| Two-spotted Bumble Bee | 4,460 |
| Pure Green Sweat bee | 2,546 |
| Ligated Furrow Bee | 1,632 |
| Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee | 1,401 |
In Ohio, May carries 10.1% of the year's bees sightings, about 1.8 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 holds steady between April and May, and it heads toward June (15.4%) after. The busiest month is July (23%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The bees most often recorded in Ohio are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Western Honey Bee and Brown-belted Bumble 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 Bee16,038 records
- Western Honey Bee12,236 records
- Brown-belted Bumble Bee8,987 records
- Eastern Carpenter Bee8,653 records
- Two-spotted Bumble Bee4,460 records
- Pure Green Sweat bee2,546 records
Plan your bee trip in Ohio
Start with live tours near Cuyahoga Valley National Park, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bee viewing area.
Booking.com
Stay nearbyStay near Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bee viewing area in Ohio.
Viator
Broader backupBook a bee tour in Ohio
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 Ohio in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 9,913 of the 98,269 verified bees sightings logged in Ohio across the year, which is 10.1% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bees in Ohio?+
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 Ohio?+
July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, August and June, based on 98,269 verified observations.
Which bees are you most likely to see in Ohio?+
The most-recorded species in Ohio are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Western Honey Bee and Brown-belted Bumble Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.