With the spring season rolling around, you may notice ground bees are starting to become active. These bees play a key role in pollination and should be treated with care. If you have never seen ground bees and don’t know how they behave, A-Tex Pest Management is here to talk about them and how to control ground bee infestations.
Identifying Ground Bees
Ground bees aren’t the only stinging insect that build their nests in the ground. Bumble bees as well as yellow jackets nest underground as well, so it is important that you know what kind of stinging insect you are dealing with. Ground bees aren’t social bees like other stinging insects. The female builds her nest alone. You may see many ground bees nesting near each other when there is space that is optimal for them, but they will each have their own separate burrow. This isn’t the case with other stinging insects that build nests underground. You will notice that there is only one bee coming and going and not a whole swarm of them around the mound of dirt. Male ground bees simply patrol looking for a suitable mate. Ground bees are usually between ½ inch to 1 inch long and come in a variety of different colors. You may see ground bees that are yellow, brown, black or even purple, blue and red. You will notice that ground bees often have a metallic hue to them.
Are Ground Bees Aggressive? Do They Bite or Sting?
Most of the time, female ground bees don’t pose a huge threat to humans. They will rarely sting unless they feel threatened for some reason. Interestingly, male bees might seem more aggressive when around the nest, but they don’t have a stinger so they also don’t pose a threat.
What Months are Ground Bees Active?
Mating season for ground bees happen between the months of March and May. This is when you will notice swarms of males circling the nests looking for mates. This is when you will notice the most activity from males and females alike. The female ground bees work to collect food for the larvae. Once the larvae develop into adult bees, they will stay underground until the next mating season. For this reason, the female stocks the nest with pollen and nectar; to hold off the bees until the next mating season.
How Do You Get Rid of Bees in the Ground?
Because these bees play a key role in pollination and are somewhat docile, if it is at all possible, they should be left alone. When they build their nests in your yard, it can be rather unsightly though. Ground bees prefer dry ground to build their nests. One of the most efficient ways to keep ground bees from building nests in your yard is to soak the ground with 1 inch of water each week. This will keep the ground moist enough that they will look elsewhere to build their burrows. Mulch is also effective in keeping ground bees away.
Stinging Insect Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
If you find that you are having a difficult time controlling the ground bee situation on your property, A-Tex Pest Management can help. We will conduct a through inspection and if we determine that bees are in fact the unwanted pest on your property, we will provide the contact information for a local bee keeper to safely remove the bees and preserve them since they play a key role in our world. Call us today!
