Bees in Pennsylvania in May
Yes, May is a good month to see bees in Pennsylvania. It is the 6th busiest month of the year, with 7,723 of the 68,038 sightings logged across the year (11.4%), 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 Pennsylvania
11.4%
of yearly sightings
7,723
records in May
#6
busiest month of 12
68,038
verified records a year
April 12.8%, May 11.4%, June 16.5%. Busiest month is July at 20%.
68,038 verified observations of bees in Pennsylvania, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bees are recorded in Pennsylvania
Peak month
July
13,641 records (20% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 39 | 0.1% |
| February | 125 | 0.2% |
| March | 1,678 | 2.5% |
| April | 8,718 | 12.8% |
| May | 7,723 | 11.4% |
| Junepeak | 11,199 | 16.5% |
| Julypeak | 13,641 | 20% |
| Augustpeak | 10,956 | 16.1% |
| September | 10,110 | 14.9% |
| October | 3,344 | 4.9% |
| November | 469 | 0.7% |
| December | 36 | 0.1% |
Bees you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| Common Eastern Bumble Bee | 11,954 |
| Western Honey Bee | 9,917 |
| Eastern Carpenter Bee | 6,154 |
| Brown-belted Bumble Bee | 3,359 |
| Two-spotted Bumble Bee | 2,540 |
| Pure Green Sweat bee | 1,579 |
| Perplexing Bumble Bee | 1,080 |
| Ligated Furrow Bee | 834 |
In Pennsylvania, May carries 11.4% of the year's bees sightings, about 3.1 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 6th busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from April (12.8%) into May, and it heads toward June (16.5%) after. The busiest month is July (20%), so if timing is flexible, that window is the safer bet.
The bees most often recorded in Pennsylvania are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Western Honey Bee and Eastern Carpenter 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 Bee11,954 records
- Western Honey Bee9,917 records
- Eastern Carpenter Bee6,154 records
- Brown-belted Bumble Bee3,359 records
- Two-spotted Bumble Bee2,540 records
- Pure Green Sweat bee1,579 records
Plan your bee trip in Pennsylvania
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.
GetYourGuide
Live tours nearbySee live tours near Appalachian National Scenic 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 Appalachian National Scenic Trail
Compare hotels, cabins and lodges close to the best bee viewing area in Pennsylvania.
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Broader backupBook a bee tour in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania in May?+
Yes. May accounts for 7,723 of the 68,038 verified bees sightings logged in Pennsylvania across the year, which is 11.4% of the annual total.
Is May a good time to see bees in Pennsylvania?+
May is the 6th busiest month. It is workable, though July and June is the stronger window for a reliable sighting.
What month is best for bees in Pennsylvania?+
July is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through July, June and August, based on 68,038 verified observations.
Which bees are you most likely to see in Pennsylvania?+
The most-recorded species in Pennsylvania are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Western Honey Bee and Eastern Carpenter Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bees in Pennsylvania in other months
More wildlife in Pennsylvania