The species of ground-nesting bees include mason bees, sweat bees, leafcutter bees, digger bees, and mining bees. They are usually active from the first warm day of spring, and they buzz from flower to flower, feeding on nectar and pollinating flowers. Unlike honey bees that live in large colonies and hives, ground bees live a solitary life. Ground nesting bees get their name from their habit of burrowing nesting channels in the soil. The females often sit at the mouth of the nest, sunning themselves. So, you will often find ground bee nests in sunny areas of your garden or on south- or east-facing slopes. Ground bee nests are usually located on sparsely vegetated ground, bare patches of lawn, or near paths.Īnother feature of ground bees is that they like to warm themselves in the sun. Although ground bees are solitary, with only one female to a nest, you may find several of these small mounds close to each other. The characteristic hole in the center is about the diameter of a large pencil.Īn identifying feature of a ground bee’s nest is that they tend to be in groups. Each ground bee nest may only be a few inches (5 – 8 cm) wide and an inch or two (2.5 – 5 cm) tall. The nest of a ground bee looks like small mounds of dry earth or sand with a hole in the center. In that case, you will get helpful tips on controlling ground bees without using chemicals. However, suppose ground bees are a nuisance in your yard. You will learn about the activities and behavior of ground bees. This article is a guide to identifying bees that burrow in the ground. A ground bee is typically tan and black and has the habit of creating a nesting burrow in the ground. Ground bees are remarkably similar to honeybees, however they don’t produce honey. Ground bees may look like yellow jackets or wasps, but they are not as aggressive. Also, many people may be concerned that ground bees can sting. Ground nesting bees can create dirt piles in lawns, spoiling the look of lush turfgrass. Despite these solitary bees being beneficial to the ecosystem and biodiversity, many gardeners view ground bees as pests. Ground bees tunnel into dry soil to create underground nests about 6” (15 cm) long where they raise their young.
Ground bees or ground nesting bees are solitary bees that make nests in the ground. Share on Email Share on Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
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