How To Get Rid of Ground Bees
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Ground bees are generally peaceful, solitary creatures that pose no threat to people. Still, finding their nests in your lawn or near well-traveled walkways can be alarming. In this guide, we’ll detail how to remove and repel ground bees and explain how to differentiate them from more aggressive bee species.
How To Remove Ground Bees
Ground bees are typically harmless and perform a valuable service as pollinators. However, you might want to consider either professional or do-it-yourself (DIY) ground bee removal if their numbers get excessive or nests are inconveniently placed.
Professional Ground Bee Removal
We strongly recommend professional bee removal if you’re dealing with a severe ground bee infestation. Pest control technicians use targeted insecticides which minimize harm to beneficial insects and the environment. They also have the expertise and equipment to safely and effectively get rid of bees without putting your own health at risk.
Hiring a professional to remove ground bees offers the following benefits:
- Comprehensive assessment: A professional exterminator can meticulously scour your property for ground bee nests and other concerns, including ones that you might miss. This thoroughness could help to prevent a resurgence from overlooked burrows.
- Targeted treatments: Most pesticides available to homeowners are broad-spectrum sprays. Pest control companies have access to insecticides specifically designed to kill ground bees. Targeted treatments minimize the impact on your family, the environment, and beneficial species.
- Multivisit plans: Ground bee removal may not happen in one fell swoop. Professionals understand ground bees’ life cycle and might recommend a multivisit treatment plan to address larvae and prevent future nesting. They may even offer discounts for annual or quarterly pest control plans.
- Safety equipment: Professional exterminators have special safety equipment that protects them from stings and potentially harmful chemicals. Beekeeper suits and other protective equipment are not a worthwhile investment for most homeowners.
- Potent insecticides: The strongest insecticides are often reserved for licensed exterminators. Hiring a pest control company allows you to benefit from the most effective solutions along with safe, professional application.
If you’re experiencing multiple unwanted critters, such as bedbugs, rodents, and cockroaches, pest control professionals may be able to address this during their visit to remove your ground bees.
DIY Ground Bee Removal
While it’s possible to remove ground bees on your own, it should be done with caution. Homeowners considering DIY bee removal have a few options:
- Vinegar spray: Vinegar can be lethal to bees and many other insect species. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar. Spritz nests and any bees you see with the mixture.
- Drowning: This involves pouring hot, soapy water down the entry to the ground bee nest to drown the larvae inside. However, this method may be ineffective and inhumane. It often fails to reach all of the bees and could prolong their suffering.
- Insecticides: Pesticides can be an effective DIY option, but they’ll likely harm beneficial insects such as butterflies and ladybugs and could disrupt the local ecosystem. They also pose health risks if not handled properly.
Remember, ground bees play a vital role in pollination, and they’re only active for a few weeks each year. Choose DIY removal methods only when necessary. Consider hiring a professional exterminator to address large infestations, nests near high-traffic areas, and safety concerns.
How To Repel Ground Bees
If a species of ground bees has become a nuisance, making your yard less welcoming to them is an effective and eco-friendly way to handle the infestation. Start by addressing any bare patches in your lawn. Ground bees prefer dry soil, so keep your lawn well-watered and consider installing sprinklers.
You can also cover bare patches in your landscaping with new plants or mulch to deter nesting. Some plants even act as natural bee deterrents. Replace sweet-smelling plants with marigolds, geraniums, citronella, and plants in the mint or onion family, such as lavender, basil, thyme, or garlic. Spraying diluted essential oils from these plants can help, but use them sparingly to avoid harming other insects.
Ways To Prevent Future Nests
Maintaining a healthy lawn can go a long way toward preventing unwelcome ground bee residents. Here are some simple lawn care tips to discourage nesting:
- Plant more grass. Ground bees prefer bare, sandy stretches to burrow in. You can deter their presence by planting grass varieties well-suited to your climate and by maintaining a lush lawn. Dense grass cover makes it more difficult for burrowing species to dig and will reduce your yard’s appeal to females looking for nesting sites.
- Water regularly. Moist soil also makes digging harder for ground bees and acts as a natural deterrent to burrowing. Ground bees prefer dry, well-drained soil because it offers better protection for their eggs and larvae. Consistent watering will encourage them to look elsewhere.
- Lay down mulch. Bare patches are an open invitation to ground bees. Fill voids in your lawn or landscaping with grass seed, mulch, or decorative gravel—especially around play areas, walkways, and other areas where bees would be a nuisance. Covering up potential nesting sites will reduce options and direct ground bees to less disruptive locations.
If you aren’t sure about what’s causing the bare patches in your lawn or how to fix them, consider investing in professional lawn care services. Pest control professionals may also be able to offer a few time-tested recommendations.
Signs of Ground Bee Nests
Ground-nesting bees might be less obvious than, say, a hive of honeybees or a wasp nest. They tend to fly low to the ground, and you won’t see or hear the same frenzied level of activity as you would from a beehive. However, ground bees do leave a few subtle clues to their presence.
Start by looking for patches of bare soil and pencil-sized nesting holes about 1/4 inch in diameter. You might also see small mounds of soil from their newly excavated burrows. Though these mounds may seem concerning and often appear in thin patches of turf, ground bees won’t damage your lawn. They merely take advantage of dry, loose soil and may actually help to aerate your lawn.
You may also see several ground bees buzzing around bare patches or entrance holes. While these are solitary bees, they rarely live far apart. You might find a large number of nests close to each other in the right conditions. Ground bees will be most noticeable from early spring to early summer, as male ground bees try to attract females and females prepare their nests.
What Are Ground Bees?
Ground bees, which are also called mining bees or digger bees, nest in burrows instead of building aboveground hives. Hundreds of species fall into this category, including sweat bees (halictids), plasterer bees (colletids), and miner bees (andrenids). Bumblebees are another common type that usually build homes underground in holes made by larger animals.
Ground bees are often mistaken for destructive carpenter bees or for aggressive wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets. However, ground bees are usually docile and cause little damage. Many ground bees lack stingers, and even those with stingers rarely use them. Some species resemble honeybees with furry black-and-yellow bodies, while others are a metallic green color.
Though ground bees receive less attention than honeybees, they share the same basic anatomy as their social cousins and play a role as important pollinators. The key difference lies in where they live. Most ground bees are solitary and live in underground nests, with each female taking care of only herself and her young.
Ground Bee Behavior
Unlike hornets and yellow jackets, ground bees generally keep to themselves. Each female builds her own nest and provides only for her young without the support of drone or worker bees. However, there are a few exceptions. Some species of bumblebees form colonies with overwintering queens, and sweat bees can construct interconnected tunnels.
Female ground bees excavate their burrows in the spring and begin gathering pollen. Along the walls of their burrow are small cells, each of which houses an egg and a ball of pollen for the larva to feed on when it hatches. Once they’ve laid their eggs and provided for their brood, the females seal off their burrows for winter. In the spring, the new generation of ground bees digs their way out as adults and starts the process anew.
Don’t worry about mowing over ground bee burrows. The bees themselves will either dart underground or fly away, and their homes won’t be damaged. You also don’t need to worry about bee stings. Unlike wasps, yellow jackets, and other aggressive species, ground bees aren’t territorial and often lack stingers.
Ground Bees vs. Yellow Jackets and Wasps
Ground bees share some physical similarities with other buzzing insects, but their lifestyles and temperaments differ. For instance, ground bees build their nests underground, rarely sting, and have different habits for surviving the winter months, otherwise known as overwintering. Here’s how ground bees compare to yellow jackets and paper wasps on key factors:
| Factor | Ground Bees | Yellow Jackets | Paper Wasps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social structure | Mostly solitary | Social, living in colonies | Either solitary or social, depending on the species |
| Nesting sites | Underground | Usually underground, though sometimes in aboveground spaces | In aboveground paper nests |
| Sting behavior | Calm, rarely stinging | Aggressive, commonly stinging | Semiaggressive, stinging when disturbed |
| Diet and pollination | Nectar and pollen | Nectar, pollen, and insects | Nectar, pollen, and insects |
| Overwintering | Fertilized pupae overwinter | Only fertilized queens overwinter | Only fertilized queens overwinter |
Our Conclusion
Professional intervention is your best bet for effectively getting rid of ground bees. An experienced pest control company can expertly locate all nests and develop a targeted treatment plan that minimizes harm to other insects and the environment. Professionals will also use specialized equipment and safety measures that prioritize your family’s well-being.
Prevention is key, so address early signs and potential nesting sites before ground bees take up residence and multiply. Prompt action, whether through natural deterrents, diligent lawn care, or professional help, can prevent a full-blown infestation and make removal easier.
FAQ About Getting Rid of Ground Bees
How long do ground bee nests last each year?
Each active ground bee nest lasts one season. When the next generation emerges in the spring, those females will establish their own nests. Adults die off within four to six weeks, but their larvae overwinter and continue developing underground before repeating the cycle.
What scent repels ground bees naturally?
Strong scents such as peppermint, lavender, and citronella can repel ground bees naturally. You can spray diluted essential oils or cultivate these plants in your garden to deter bees.
Will ground bees come back after removing the nest?
Ground bees may come back to an area after you remove their nest if suitable conditions remain. Prevent their return by addressing bare patches and dry soil after removing the nests.
Do ground bees die after stinging?
Unlike honeybees, ground bees don’t die after stinging. However, ground bees rarely sting unless severely provoked.
How deep do ground bee tunnels go underground?
Ground bee tunnels typically go about 6 inches underground. However, some species make use of rodent burrows or dig deeper themselves, depending on soil conditions.
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