Bees in Virginia in July

Yes, July is one of the best months to see bees in Virginia. It is the 2nd busiest month of the year, with 12,706 of the 71,087 sightings logged across the year (17.9%), 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.

Anthophorula micheneri photographed in VirginiaRusty-patched Bumble Bee photographed in VirginiaSpring Beauty Miner photographed in Virginia
Photos by iNaturalist observers, used under Creative Commons.

Peak month for bees in Virginia

17.9%

of yearly sightings

12,706

records in July

#2

busiest month of 12

71,087

verified records a year

June 18.2%, July 17.9%, August 13.4%. Busiest month is June at 18.2%.

Best months: June, July, AugustPeak season right now

71,087 verified observations of bees in Virginia, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.

When bees are recorded in Virginia

Peak month

June

12,964 records (18.2% of the year)

Quietest month

January

61 records

MonthObservationsShare
January610.1%
February3380.5%
March2,8834.1%
April8,94712.6%
May7,27110.2%
Junepeak12,96418.2%
Julypeak12,70617.9%
Augustpeak9,52313.4%
September9,14912.9%
October6,0958.6%
November1,0671.5%
December830.1%

Bees you are most likely to see

SpeciesVerified observations
Common Eastern Bumble Bee11,060
Eastern Carpenter Bee8,097
Western Honey Bee6,943
Brown-belted Bumble Bee3,801
Two-spotted Bumble Bee3,042
Pure Green Sweat bee2,024
American Bumble Bee1,562
Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee756

In Virginia, July carries 17.9% of the year's bees sightings, about 9.6 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 holds steady between June and July, and it heads toward August (13.4%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.

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

Which bees you are most likely to see

  • Common Eastern Bumble Bee11,060 records
  • Eastern Carpenter Bee8,097 records
  • Western Honey Bee6,943 records
  • Brown-belted Bumble Bee3,801 records
  • Two-spotted Bumble Bee3,042 records
  • Pure Green Sweat bee2,024 records
Plan your tripAppalachian National Scenic Trail

Plan your bee trip in Virginia

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 Virginia in July?+

Yes. July accounts for 12,706 of the 71,087 verified bees sightings logged in Virginia across the year, which is 17.9% of the annual total.

Is July a good time to see bees in Virginia?+

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

What month is best for bees in Virginia?+

June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, July and August, based on 71,087 verified observations.

Which bees are you most likely to see in Virginia?+

The most-recorded species in Virginia are Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Eastern Carpenter Bee and Western Honey Bee, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.