How To Get Rid Of Ground Nesting Bees
Excerpted from: Brody Brothers
When it comes to ground nesting bees, you might be surprised if you stumble upon a nest in your yard.
A staggering 70% of bee species nest underground.
The culprits include Mining Bees and the Cellophane Bees. These native bees
burrow into the ground to nest. Unlike honey bees, ground bees are solitary and do not live in
colonies.
Another culprit is the Bumble Bee however, they are one of the few species of ground nesting bees that
live in colonies. They often nest in large holes that are already made by a small animal.
Female ground nesting bees go underground to lay their eggs inside tunnels in the ground. You can
easily identify a ground bee nest. It’s a small pile of dirt with a large hole in the center. This is where the
female tunnels go inside to lay eggs.
These eggs hatch underground and spend wintertime underground. In the summer, they come back
out and the females begin digging tunnels again to lay eggs.
Unlike social bees and wasps, they are not aggressive. Ground bees generally won’t bother
you if you don’t bother them. Females have stingers but won’t sting you unless they feel
threatened.
You will often see male ground bees out hovering around the underground nests. The males
are not equipped to sting or hurt you. The worst they will do to you is to chase you away.
Most important they are incredibly important pollinators.
It's really not necessary to kill ground nesting bees. These are generally docile bees in comparison
to honey bees. Killing them can be a threat to the ecosystem over time.
Instead of killing ground nesting bees, you can also try some of the following advice.
Structure of a
Mining Bee nest
This strategy will prevent the bees from tunneling back inside to lay eggs. Once the bees
realize they can’t get back into their nest, they will likely disappear and find a new place to burrow.
To block the underground nests, you can put items on top of the holes such as bricks.
Ground bees burrow their nests in dry soil. The act of watering your lawn can be enough to send
the bees elsewhere. You may have to try watering multiple times in order for this method to be
effective. Consider using a sprinkler so you don’t have to come in close contact with the holes.
This spice is a put-off to bees and can help you get rid of ground bees when you’re in a pinch.
The idea is to sprinkle cinnamon on the holes of the nest. You will need to do this each day for
at least one week for it to take effect.
Mixing a spray bottle with equal parts of water and vinegar can help to get rid of ground bees.
One cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water can serve as your solution in the spray bottle.
The use of chemicals and pesticides is ill-advised. It’s harmful to children, pets, and the soil.
Since the DIY methods above can ultimately aggravate the bees, you’ll want to try these suggestions
at night when the bees are asleep. Remember that the female can sting if provoked. Males won’t sting
you, but they can swarm and chase you.
Do not attempt these approaches if you have a bee allergy. The female stings and it can result in a
severe allergic reaction.
Wisconsin Bee Identification Guide
Spring Wild Bees of Wisconsin
Bumble Bees of Wisconsin
Wild Native Bee Nest Boxes