Spring brings the return of the birds and the bees to our yards and gardens. The sound of birds singing may be a nice sign of spring, but many people don’t like it when wasps and bees come back to their garden. In particular, the ground nesting bees that become more active in many lawns in early spring can scare a lot of people, especially when their “dirt pile” nests start to show up in the grass.
Colletes inaequalis, one of many types of ground nesting bee. You can see that they are very similar in appearance to honeybees.
Ground nesting bees, also called miner bees, are solitary bees that dig tunnels underground. The queens live alone and raise their own young. The entrances to the nests are small piles or patches of bare soil. They do not form hives, but several females may nest in the same area. Queen ground bees don’t protect their nests and are very calm and unlikely to sting, so they don’t pose much of a threat to people. The males often patrol an area inhabited by females seeking mates. While the males can be very active and seem aggressive, they lack a sting and are also harmless. Like other bees, they are active foragers of nectar and pollen from flowers, making them beneficial pollinators.
Their nest entrances are small mounds of soil a few inches across. They may temporarily take away from the beauty of a well-kept lawn, but they don’t hurt the grass or soil in any way. In fact, their nests serve as aeration holes that let more water and nutrients into the soil. When the birds leave their nests at the end of the spring nesting season, the soil washes back into place and is no longer there.
These are NOT docile ground nesting bees, they are yellow-jackets and are bad tempered and aggressive. Do not confuse them with docile ground nesting bees or you will have a very bad day.
You don’t have to use any kind of pesticides to get rid of ground bees, even for the short time they stay in your lawn. Ground bees like to nest in dry soil. If you water the spot they have chosen, they will leave and go to another spot. If a lot of ground nesting bees come back to your lawn every year, run a sprinkler over the area before they get there. Ground nesting bees like dry soil better than wet soil and will look for other places to build their nests. (Make sure that you are evicting ground bees and not yellow-jackets. Yellow-jackets reaction to a water eviction will not be “non-aggressive” by any means. A yellow jacket nest will look like a busy airport because bugs will be coming and going all the time. The entrances can be well over an inch wide. Only one ground bee will be seen leaving and entering a hole only about ¼” wide. ).
Even better, let the ground bees do their thing. They won’t be around for long, and while they’re there, they’ll help your lawn and garden. Just like robins, they’re another welcome sign of spring.
Photo Credits Colletes inaequalis: By USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory [CC BY 2. 0 (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by/2. 0)], via Wikimedia Commons All others bigstock. com.
Dont panic, there are a few common (and benign) reasons that trees drop leaves in summer.
Many homeowners discover odd mounds of dirt with holes in their yard and wonder, “What kind of big bee made these?” While alarming, these nests often belong to solitary, docile ground bees rather than aggressive wasps Learning about these gentle giants of the bee world can help ease concerns
Several types of large wild bees create underground nests leaving dirt piles on the surface. These ground-nesting bees range from about the size of a honeybee to over 1 inch long. They are robust fuzzy, and brightly colored compared to their domesticated cousins.
Some examples of big bees that dig nests in the ground:
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Mining bees – Also called digger bees, these beefy insects can be over an inch long with striped abdomens.
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Carpenter bees – Massive black bees that excavate burrows in wood as well as soil. Grow up to 1 inch.
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Bumblebees – Large fuzzy bees in black, yellow, and sometimes orange that nest in cavities.
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Leafcutter bees – Stocky, dark bees that line nests with cut leaf pieces Around honeybee size
While alarming in appearance, these ground-dwelling bees are generally docile unless provoked. Their nests host solitary females caring for their young, not dense hives. Understanding their life cycles helps demystify these gentle giants.
The Nesting Habits of Large Burrowing Bees
Big ground bees create signature nests that are simple to identify:
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Mounds of loose soil – Bees excavate tunnels in dry, bare earth, pushing out grains of dirt. This forms small piles with a hole in the center.
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Wood cavities – Carpenter bees drill deep tunnels into wood, such as logs, posts, and the undersides of decks. The holes are perfectly round.
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Abandoned rodent burrows – Solitary females often take over old tunnels left by mice, chipmunks, and groundhogs.
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Insulation materials – Leafcutter bees line underground nests with cut leaf or flower petal pieces.
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GROUPED Nest Entrances – While each tunnel hosts one female, multitudes of neighboring holes are common.
Nests appear in spring as bees emerge and remain active through summer. By fall, most offspring have matured and left, abandoning the nests.
Identifying Key Traits of Large Ground Bees
Many large digging bees share similarities with honeybees but also have distinctive features:
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Large and robust – Over 1/2 inch long, these bees have thick, furry bodies well-suited for burrowing.
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Ultra fuzzy – Coated in dense hair, these insects appear more pilose than honeybees. Bumblebees are especially shaggy.
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Bright colors – Dark bees may have bright yellow, orange, or metallic blue/green stripes on their abdomens.
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Heart-shaped face – Like honeybees, these bees have a pointed mouthpart framed by antennae in a heart silhouette.
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Long antennae – Prominent feelers extended from their heads help sense surroundings when underground.
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Powerful mandibles – Sturdy jaws adapted for extensive digging and chewing through wood/soil.
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Loud buzz – Their deep, buzzing hum differs from lighter honeybees.
Are Large Burrowing Bees Aggressive or Dangerous?
Despite their imposing size, giant ground bees are not aggressive unless severely provoked:
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Rarely sting – Females focus on provisioning nests and only sting in self-defense if disturbed. Males cannot sting.
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Do not attack – Large bees foraging for nectar or pollen won’t pursue or swarm around humans or pets.
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Solitary nesting – With one female per nest, these bees don’t have large groups to attack as a colony.
However, like any bee, they can deliver painful stings if extremely bothered. It’s wise to avoid touching or handling them. Causing nest damage may elicit a sting as well. Otherwise, observing them from a distance is safe.
what is the difference between yellow jackets, “ground bees” and ground nesting bees?
FAQ
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