Bees of Toronto's High Park

From bumblebees to ground‑nesting bees, discover the rich diversity of these important native pollinators who reside in Toronto’s High Park.

High Park’s rare Black Oak Savannah ecosystem creates the perfect habitat for a remarkable diversity of native bees in Toronto. Warm, sandy soil exposed to sunlight provides excellent nesting conditions, while a rich variety of native prairie wildflowers offers abundant nectar and pollen. In addition, shrubs and trees within the savannah support species that nest in hollow stems and cavities.

Explore the fascinating world of pollinators in High Park, from bumblebees to solitary ground nesters.

Bumble Bees of Toronto's High Park

In August 2012, a survey by Wildlife Preservation Canada documented several species of bumblebees (Bombus) in High Park. These important pollinators play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. These species can often be seen foraging on wildflowers throughout the spring and summer months.

Observed Species:

Red-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus rufocinctus)
Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens)
Two-spotted Bumble Bee (Bombus bimaculatus)
Confusing Bumble Bee (Bombus perplexus)
Brown-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus griseocollis)

Bumble Bee Watch

Wish to be actively involved in collaborative community science efforts to track and conserve bumble bees in North America? Bumble Bee Watch is your answer! It allows you to upload photos of bumble bees, identify your observations and have it verified by experts. Your contributions will help researchers determine the status and conservation needs of bumble bees, and help locate rare and endangered populations. It’s a great way to learn about bumble bees, their ecology, and ongoing conservation efforts, while also connecting with other community scientists.

Ground-nesting Bees

High Park is home to a large aggregation of ground-nesting bees, particularly Colletes species—fondly nicknamed “Tickle Bees” by local schoolchildren for their gentle, ticklish touch when they land.

Each spring (April to May), between 4,000 and 10,000 bees emerge on an east-facing sandy hill, with smaller nesting groups scattered throughout the park’s oak savannah and woodland areas.

These are solitary bees which don’t have one large communal nest. Instead, they dig tunnels in the sandy soil close to one another. Each female provisions her own nest, which is a single tunnel in the sand. These cute little bees don’t sting even if you sit right in the middle of them, which makes them fascinating to observe up close and listen to. Visitors can experience this natural phenomenon visually and acoustically, as captured in the art installation “Resonating Bodies” by Sarah Peebles and Stephen Humphrey.

Besides Colletes, High Park is also home to a diverse range of ground-nesting sweat bees Halictidae and mining bees Andrenidae.

Mason Bees & Leafcutter Bees

Mason Bees and Leafcutter Bees are common in High Park during spring and summer. These cavity-nesting bees use hollow stems, wood cavities, and man-made structures to build their nests.

As an extension of the Resonating Bodies art installations, we have a specially designed bee hotel, or solitary bee cabinet at High Park Nature Centre’s OURSpace learning garden. This provides vital habitat for mason bees, leafcutter bees, wasps and variety of pollinators. Visitors can observe nesting activity up close through a protective plexiglass panel.

OURSpace Bee Hotel

Installed in 2016, Sonic Solitaries Audio Bee Cabinet in OURSpace is not only an interactive, educational art exhibit, but also a functional nesting space for a variety of bees and wasps.

On either side of the cabinet, there are two latched doors that can be opened to view the nests which are protected by plexiglass. The grooved planks in which the insects build their nest are removable and are regularly cleaned by staff.

We are grateful to Sarah Peebles along with Mary-Ann Alberga, Stephen Humphreys, John Kuisma and Rob Cruickshank for creating this exhibit.

Pollinator Garden Project

Toronto is home to many native pollinators, and High Park is a key refuge for these essential species. Thanks to the work of The Horticultural Society of Parkdale & Toronto pollinator gardens have been supported and maintained at the Colborne Lodge museum and the Hillside Gardens in High Park.

These gardens, and the continued stewardship of natural ecosystems in High Park, highlight the importance of native plant species in supporting biodiversity and creating resilient urban ecosystems. By protecting and learning about Toronto’s native bees, we help ensure the long-term health of local ecosystems.

Special thanks to  Dr. Clement Kent and Sarah Peebles for contributing to the information on this webpage.

Pollinators: Nature's Tiny Superheroes

Discover the buzz-worthy universe of bees and all the other amazing pollinators from the comfort of your own home!

Created by naturalist and pollinator expert, Susan Frye, this online naturalist course covers different types of pollinators, their biological needs, and why they’re crucial to our ecosystems. Sign up for this course today to access a comprehensive portal into their fascinating world!

City of Toronto's Biodiversity Booklet

Bees of Toronto offers an engaging introduction to the remarkable diversity and striking beauty of these essential, yet often misunderstood, little insects. While honey bees tend to receive most of the public attention, the reality is that a substantial share of both natural and agricultural pollination is carried out by wild bees. In fact, more than 350 species of native bees call the Greater Toronto Area home. These beautiful, diverse, and irreplaceable ecological stewards play an indispensable role to sustain the health and resilience of nearly all terrestrial ecosystems.