Poop. Just saying the word makes many people uncomfortable. It’s not exactly a topic for polite conversation. However, when it comes to our furry canine companions, it’s an inevitable part of life. As much as we may not want to think about it, our dogs do their business outside, leaving little landmines scattered across the yard. And it seems some unexpected visitors are quite attracted to these little treats – bees! That’s right, bees apparently love dog poop just as much as dogs love making it.
As a dog owner, you may have encountered a strange phenomenon – bees swarming around and landing on your dog’s freshly laid pile A black and yellow striped insect perched right on top, just hanging out It’s bizarre, a little gross, and makes you wonder – why in the world are bees so interested in poop?
A Stinky Attraction
Over the last decade or so, many dog owners have reported seeing more bees buzzing around dog feces in their yard. And not just typical honeybees, but all types of wasps, yellowjackets, and hornets too. Every time Fido does his business, these black and yellow insects arrive on the scene within minutes, like they’re waiting for a poop alert.
At first glance, it seems bizarre that bees would have any interest in poop. But a closer look reveals there are actually a few reasons why bees may be attracted to dog feces:
1. Moisture and Salts
Dog waste is rich in moisture, salts, and other compounds that bees may find appealing. Fresh feces contains a high amount of water and nitrogenous waste products, which could attract thirsty insects looking for a drink. The salts and minerals in poop may also be desirable to bees.
2. Undigested Food Remnants
Sometimes dog poop contains visible chunks of undigested food which could attract bees as a potential food source. Meat products in the feces may especially appeal to wasps and hornets, which are known to scavenge on dead animals and insects. Any traces of sugars, like those found in commercial dog foods would also entice bees.
3. Microbes and Enzymes
Dog poop is teeming with microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, as well as digestive enzymes. Bees collect many microbes to nourish their colony and may forage on feces for this reason Certain enzymes they can utilize in their nests.
4. Scent Markers
The unique scent profile of feces likely helps guide bees to the source. Substances produced by the liver or gut bacteria give poop its characteristic smell, which bees may learn to associate with a food reward or navigational cue.
A Stinging Hassle
For dog owners, all these buzzing insects flocking to poop pose a frustrating nuisance at best and painful hazard at worst. Battling angry wasps and hornets while simply trying to clean up after your pup quickly gets old. And if you have ever been stung trying to manage your dog’s waste, you understand firsthand what an unpleasant predicament this is.
However, there are steps you can take to discourage bees from congregating on poop piles in your yard:
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Scoop frequently – Bees are attracted to fresh feces, so promptly removing waste denies them the chance to find it. Make sure your poop scooper is always handy.
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Dispose properly – Securely bag poop pickups and place in covered bins. Don’t leave waste sitting in open garbage cans.
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Check for nests – Scout your property for bee nests located at or near ground level where dogs go. Relocate hives if needed.
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Limit food waste – Pick up leftover pet food immediately and adjust portions to avoid excessive waste in stool.
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Use digestible treats – Choose digestible, low-residue treats over rawhide or bone types that result in poop filled with undigested remnants.
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Install deterrents – Place natural repellents like mint, citrus, or vinegar around poop zones. Opt for a [bee repelling spray] when cleaning up piles.
Why Are More Bees Buzzing Around Poop?
If you feel like you’ve noticed more bees checking out dog deposits lately, you aren’t wrong. Many owners report seeing an increase in bees attracted to poop over the past decade or so.
Unfortunately, there is limited research on why this phenomenon may be occurring more frequently:
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Climate change – Warming temperatures cause shifts in pollinator populations, ranges, behaviors and lead to imbalances between predators and prey.
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Pesticide use – Widespread pesticide application reduces natural food sources, forcing bees to seek alternate forms of nutrition.
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Loss of habitat – Urbanization and reduction of natural bee habitats raise attraction to dogs as substitutes.
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Disease and parasites – Higher disease and mite/parasite loads incite nutritional stress that drives attraction to poop.
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Diet – More commercial diets with palatable sugars and proteins cause extra undigested residues in feces that appeal to bees.
Until more formal research investigates the recent uptick in bee interest in canine poop piles, we can’t know the exact cause. It’s likely a combination of the factors above creating the perfect conditions for bees to seek out this stinky snack.
A Black and White Striped Culprit
If you spot a black and white striped bee perched atop your pup’s poop, you may be wondering what exact species it is. There are a couple suspect bees known to exhibit this color pattern:
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Cuckoo Bee – Cuckoo bees are kleptoparasites, laying their eggs in other bee nests. The black and white cuckoo bee is a common sight in spring.
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Orchard Bee – Also called the orchard mason bee, these efficient pollinators nest in holes and are drawn to feces moisture and salts.
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Tricolored Bumble Bee – These fuzzy, medium-sized bees have a distinct white, black, and yellow pattern. They regularly scavenge on dung and carrion.
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Wool Carder Bee – Named for their wool-like nesting habits, wool carder males are black and white striped. They collect animal hair and secretions.
If you spot this black and yellow bandit snacking on poop, snap a photo to identify the species. While it may look cute, best not to disturb it and risk getting stung!
A Subject Not Often Discussed
It’s natural to feel perplexed and grossed out when you first notice bees treating your yard like an all-you-can-eat poop buffet. This is a subject not often discussed in polite conversation. But clearly there is some complex biology behind this phenomenon that compels bees to feast on feces.
As bizarre and irritating as this behavior may be, try to have patience for your new bee buddies. Like us, they are just trying to survive and get nutrition wherever they can find it. With some clever deterrents and speedy poop scooping, hopefully you can reach a truce between dogs and bees in your backyard. Because when nature calls Fido, chances are some striped insects will come running too, looking for an easy meal. Just hold your nose and let the bees have their fill!
What is a Bald-Faced Hornet?
How many of you know that the bald-faced hornet is not really a hornet? It’s a wasp related to the yellowjacket. Its common name comes from the fact that its body is mostly black and its face is mostly white. It is also called a hornet because it is big and mean. These black and white wasps known as bald-faced hornets can produce a nasty hornet-like sting. Read on to learn more.
What Do Bald-Faced Hornets Look Like?
A bald-faced hornet might be what you see if you see what looks like a black and white wasp. They greatly resemble their yellowjacket relatives, but with black bodies and a predominantly white-patterned face. Also, there are two slanted lines on their upper abdomen and head that go from the middle of their bodies to the top of their heads. Like yellowjackets and paper wasps, the surface of their upper-midsection almost looks triangular from the side.
Queen bald-faced hornets are larger in size than their adult-worker counterparts. Their nests in the air look like paper and are gray. However, they are enclosed, unlike the open cone-shaped nests of other stinging hornets and insects, such as paper wasps and yellowjackets. Video: Get the Facts About Bald-faced Hornets Can Bald-faced Hornets Hurt You?.
Bald-faced hornets are aggressive and will attack anyone or anything that invades their space. This is unlike other stinging insects that may only rarely sting when they feel extremely threatened. This makes bald-faced hornet removal, which should be left strictly to a professional for safety, somewhat difficult. Because their stingers are smooth, these black and white wasps can sting many times. Other stinging insects, like honey bees, can only attack once before their stinger falls off. Bald-faced Hornet Sting.
Bald-faced hornet stings carry venom that makes the stings hurt, itch and swell for about 24 hours. Humans are at the same risk of allergic reactions from bald-faced hornet stings as with other insect stings. Where Do Bald-faced Hornets Live?.
Bald-faced hornets build paper nests at least three feet off the ground. They do this in trees, bushes, on house overhangs, utility poles, sheds, and other buildings. These nests can be as large as 14 inches in diameter and more than 24 inches in length. Bald-faced Hornet Habits.
Bald-faced hornets are social insects and are most visibly active during the day. They live in colonies that may contain between 100 and 400 members at their peak.
Bald-faced hornets usually appear in late summer when populations are largest. Males hatch from eggs that haven’t been fertilized and mate with new females to start the next season at the end of summer. When it gets cooler, only the inseminated insects stay in the nest over the winter. The rest of the nest’s members die, and the process starts all over again the next spring and summer. Bald-faced hornets don’t reuse their nests year after year like some other stinging insects do. Instead, the new members will build them from scratch each time. Bald-faced Hornets vs. Yellowjackets Signs of a Bald-faced Hornet Infestation.
If you find bald-faced hornets, you’ll know right away because there will be a nest somewhere, probably above the ground. You will also find worker bald-faced hornets flying around the nest and nearby area.
Recognizing these black and white wasps and avoiding contact with them is key to preventing bald-faced hornet stings. How to Get Rid of Bald-Faced Hornets.
The first step is prevention. People who own homes should seal up any small holes or cracks that these wasps could use to get inside when they are looking for shelter. Covering food, especially when you’re outside, will also help keep these bugs away and could save you from a bald-faced hornet sting.
When spending time outside, people should avoid wearing strong fragrances and opt for unscented hygienic products. Likewise, they should wear shoes that cover and protect their feet from rogue hornets.
If you find a bald-faced hornet nest on your property or home, don’t try to get rid of it yourself. Doing so could make the colony angry, which would make the hornets sting you. DIY pest control should be avoided at all costs. Instead, contact a licensed professional about proper removal to avoid the risk of bald-faced hornet stings. To get rid of as many hornets as possible, a professional will probably look at the nest during the day and then take it down at night, when most of the hornets are inside.
If you think you have Argentine ants in your home, you should call a licensed pest control professional right away. They will conduct a thorough inspection to identify the full extent of the problem. Once the situation is properly identified, the appropriate control measures can be taken.
You can find one with the helpful zip code search below.
Black Dog Poop: What Does It Mean?
FAQ
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