The one thing that comes to mind when I find out that Maine has it's own state insect, is "that's so cute".

Maine is very well known for it's delicious lobsters and majestic pine trees. I still remember when my sister chose the chickadee, our state bird, for her school report.

But I had no idea we had a state bug?

Did you know that the state also has an official insect?

Yes, it's true. This little guys is called the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and he was officially entered in as Maine's state insect in 1975, according to Maine.gov. 

This may seem like a tiny and simple bug, but this honey bee plays a mega role in Maine's environment and our day to day lives.

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Zac Durant via Unsplash
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Why the European Honey Bee?

The decision to name the European honey bee as Maine's state insect was because of the crucial role in pollination, according to Pine State Pest. 

These hardworking little pollinators are important to our agricultural in Maine. They pollinate crops, trees, and grasses across the state. In fact, honey bees are essential to food production, even on a global scale, making their importance even more, important!

Did you know..

Maine's honeybees pollinate about one-third of the food we eat, from fruits and vegetables to nuts and seeds! So without them, many of the crops would die and we wouldn't have delicious food to eat. Isn't that interesting?

Read More: These Maine Bugs Are Taking Over My House By The Thousands

So, the next time you spot a honey bee flying around your yard, remember that this small but mighty insect plays a big role in Maine!

Quiz: Do you know your state insect?

Stacker has used a variety of sources to compile a list of the official state insect(s) of each U.S. state, as well as their unique characteristics. Read on to see if you can guess which insect(s) represent your state. 

Gallery Credit: Andrew Vale

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