Maine State Insect Honeybee
| State Capital: Augusta State Nickname: Pine Tree State State Motto: Dirigo ("I lead") State Bird: Chickadee State Floral: White pine cone & tassel State Fossil: Pertica quadrifaria |
State Cat: Maine Coon Cat State Fish: Landlocked Salmon State Insect: Honeybee State Tree: White Pine State Animal: Moose State Gemstone: Tourmaline |
Settlers brought the Honey Bee to North America in the 17th century. Today these bees are used in Maine to pollinate crops and produce honey. Maine Honeybees are frequently seen swarming around tree limbs. Honey Bees are distinguished from bumble bees and bees in other families mostly by wing venation.
Maine's blueberry crop requires about 50,000 beehives for pollination each year, with most of the hives brought to Maine from other states. Maine beekeepers have several thousand hives that are kept in the state year-round to pollinate apple orchards, strawberry fields and other crops.
