17 US states have designated an official state bee. The other 33 have not. This page documents the 17 that did, when they did it, and which bee earned the distinction. The other 33 states are noted at the bottom with appropriate commentary.
| State | Year Designated | Official Bee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 1983 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Utah's nickname is the "Beehive State" — the beehive appears on the state flag, state seal, and official highway markers. The beehive symbolizes industry and cooperation, values central to the state's pioneer heritage. Utah is arguably the most bee-identified state in the union. |
| New Jersey | 1974 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | One of the earlier state bee designations. New Jersey has a significant honey production history and active beekeeping community. The designation predates the modern pollinator conservation movement by several decades. |
| Arkansas | 1973 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Arkansas designated the honeybee the same year as many other states in a wave of state insect designations in the early 1970s. Arkansas produces significant quantities of clover and wildflower honey. |
| Georgia | 1975 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Georgia — the Peach State — relies heavily on bee pollination for its agricultural identity. The honeybee designation reflects the state's significant fruit and nut production. |
| Kansas | 1976 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Kansas's wheat and sunflower agriculture benefits from honeybee pollination. The state has a strong beekeeping tradition in its rural communities. |
| Louisiana | 1977 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Louisiana's diverse floral resources — including tupelo, gallberry, and tallow tree — make it one of the more distinctive honey-producing states. Tupelo honey from Louisiana and the Florida panhandle is particularly prized. |
| Maine | 1975 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Maine's blueberry industry — one of the largest in the world — is critically dependent on bee pollination. The state imports millions of honeybee colonies each spring for the blueberry bloom. |
| Mississippi | 1980 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Mississippi has significant tallow and gallberry honey production. The state's warm climate supports year-round foraging in its southern regions. |
| Missouri | 1985 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Missouri designated the honeybee after a campaign led by elementary school students — a common pathway to state symbol designation that reflects genuine civic engagement with the subject. |
| Nebraska | 1975 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Nebraska's extensive agricultural landscape — corn, soybeans, alfalfa — relies on pollination services. The honeybee designation acknowledges this economic dependency. |
| New Hampshire | 1985 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | New Hampshire has a strong agricultural heritage and active beekeeping community. The designation came through a student-led legislative campaign, as with several other states. |
| North Carolina | 1973 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | North Carolina has significant tobacco, sweet potato, and fruit crop pollination needs. The state operates an active apiary inspection program and beekeeping extension service. |
| Oklahoma | 1992 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | A later designation, reflecting growing awareness of pollinator importance in the early 1990s as Colony Collapse Disorder precursor events began to be noted by researchers. |
| South Dakota | 1978 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | South Dakota is one of the top honey-producing states in the US, benefiting from vast tracts of clover and wildflowers on the Great Plains. The designation reflects genuine economic significance. |
| Tennessee | 1990 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Tennessee has significant fruit and vegetable production dependent on pollination. The state hosts the Tennessee Beekeepers Association, one of the more active state organizations. |
| Vermont | 1978 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Vermont's apple, berry, and maple industries rely on bee pollination. The state has a strong artisanal honey production culture consistent with its broader agricultural identity. |
| Wisconsin | 1977 | Honeybee (Apis mellifera) | Wisconsin's cranberry, cherry, and vegetable production depends heavily on bee pollination. The state is also a significant honey producer, with clover honey predominating. |
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming have not designated an official state bee.
California — home to the almond industry that requires 1.5 million bee colonies annually — does not have a state bee. Texas — the largest agricultural state — does not have a state bee. Florida — home to tupelo and orange blossom honey — does not have a state bee. This website takes no position on state legislative priorities. We simply document the record.