Bees are essential pollinators for wild, ornamental, and agricultural plants, but human activities have disrupted their habitats, threatening their persistence. Although bees face numerous challenges in habitats heavily modified by human activities, certain species persist and thrive there. This review synthesizes recent literature on two types of traits that help bees survive in human-modified environments: preadaptive traits, which evolved before these environments existed, and adaptive traits, which have evolved in response to new conditions. This review highlights our limited understanding of adaptive traits and examines how trait combinations, including those influenced by epigenetics, contribute to bees' success in these altered habitats. Additionally, we discuss the promising use of genomic tools to reveal signatures of adaptation in these important pollinators.