Bees in Ohio in September

Yes, September is a good month to see bees in Ohio. It is the 4th busiest month of the year, with 14,652 of the 98,269 sightings logged across the year (14.9%), 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.

Ligated Furrow Bee photographed in OhioComposite Bare-Miner photographed in OhioVirginia Carpenter Bee photographed in Ohio
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Good month for bees in Ohio

14.9%

of yearly sightings

14,652

records in September

#4

busiest month of 12

98,269

verified records a year

August 18.7%, September 14.9%, October 5.2%. Busiest month is July at 23%.

Best months: July, August, JunePeak season right now

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)

Quietest month

January

34 records

MonthObservationsShare
January340%
February1610.2%
March1,8421.9%
April9,82210%
May9,91310.1%
Junepeak15,15115.4%
Julypeak22,61323%
Augustpeak18,41818.7%
September14,65214.9%
October5,1035.2%
November5210.5%
December390%

Bees you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee16,038
Western Honey Bee12,236
Brown-belted Bumble Bee8,987
Eastern Carpenter Bee8,653
Two-spotted Bumble Bee4,460
Pure Green Sweat bee2,546
Ligated Furrow Bee1,632
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee1,401

In Ohio, September carries 14.9% of the year's bees sightings, about 6.6 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 (18.7%) into September, and it heads toward October (5.2%) 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 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 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 tripCuyahoga Valley National Park

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.

Frequently asked questions

Can you see bees in Ohio in September?+

Yes. September accounts for 14,652 of the 98,269 verified bees sightings logged in Ohio across the year, which is 14.9% of the annual total.

Is September a good time to see bees in Ohio?+

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 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.