They need nest sites and forage plants, including wild ones, which bloom all season to provide nectar and pollen. Most bees love sun and select dry places to nest. Some species of solitary bees are ground nesters, and each female constructs a nesting tunnel underground in a sunny undisturbed location. In some species a common tunnel is used, but each female has her own chamber off the tunnel where she lays her eggs. Of these, some excavate nests in wood and the others excavate the pith in the stems of plants such as sumac and goldenrod, making their nests in the hollowed stems.
Bumblebees are the only native bees that are highly social, like honeybees.
Bumblebees, though, have smaller nests or hives, usually underground, in undisturbed meadows, woodlands or even old barns. The colonies are annual, so every individual in the colony dies each year except the mated queens, who hibernate through the winter. Each queen starts a new colony in the spring. Red clover is wonderful forage, but other nectar plants also need to be blooming before and after the clover. Bumblebees pollinate many plants including tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, melons, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries.