Most likely, you have seen bees flying low to the ground while working in your yard in the spring.
If you watch very closely, you may notice them entering burrows or holes in the yard.
It’s likely that ground bees have moved into your home. They could be bumblebees or yellow jackets.
There are approximately 20,000 species of bees and the surprising fact is that 70% of them nest underground. Some of the most common ground bees are the bumblebee, the cellophane bee, the digger or mining bee, and the sweat bee.
Do Ground Bees Have Stingers? An Essential Guide
As an avid gardener and outdoor enthusiast, I often ponder the question – do ground bees have stingers? With thousands of ground bee species populating backyards across America, it’s valid to feel concerned about getting stung while doing yardwork
After researching this common question, here is what I discovered about ground bees and their stingers:
What Are Ground Bees?
Ground bees are solitary bees that build underground nests in sandy, well-drained soil. With over 70% of bee species in the U.S. nesting in the ground, chances are you have ground bees if you notice small holes littering your yard.
Common ground bee species include mining bees, sweat bees, mason bees, digger bees, and carpenter bees. Ground bees play a vital role as pollinators in backyard gardens and agricultural crops.
Do Only Female Ground Bees Have Stingers?
Yes, just like all other bee species, only female ground bees are equipped with a stinger. Male ground bees do not have stingers.
The stinger functions as an egg-laying device for female bees. Therefore, male bees do not require stingers to reproduce.
Are Ground Bee Stings Painful?
While all bee stings can cause minor to moderate pain, ground bee stings are not considered especially painful compared to other bees.
The level of pain depends on your individual sensitivity. Those allergic to bee venom will experience more severe reactions to ground bee stings.
How Often Do Ground Bees Sting?
Here’s the good news: ground bees rarely sting unless extremely provoked.
You would likely have to grab, swat, or otherwise threaten a ground bee to trigger a sting. These bees tend to be docile and avoid confrontation.
By respecting ground bees’ space and leaving their nests undisturbed, stings are highly unlikely.
Do Ground Bees Sting Multiple Times?
Female ground bees are physiologically capable of stinging repeatedly, unlike honey bees which die after one sting.
However, ground bees are not aggressive or territorial by nature. The chances of getting stung even once are low, let alone multiple times.
Avoiding Ground Bee Stings
Follow these tips to steer clear of ground bee stings in your yard:
- Inspect areas before mowing or using garden tools to avoid disturbing nests
- Don’t swat or crush ground bees
- Prevent pets and children from digging in areas bees frequent
- Remove shoes before going indoors to avoid tracking ground bees inside
- Stay calm and slowly move away if you encounter ground bees
Why Do I Have Ground Bees?
It’s not pretty when ground bees make holes in the grass, but they are very helpful and can be a gardener’s best friend. These ground nesters will actively forage in search of nectar and pollen.
Mining bees, sweat bees, and digger bees all fall into the category of ground bees. These insects are very beneficial in fulfilling the much-needed, all-important role of pollination.
When you look at all the burrows in the yard, their population seems much larger than it really is. This is because, even though they live alone, they tend to gather and build multiple nests in any place that is good for burrowing and building nests.
The male ground bee lives in the air above this small city of burrows and looks for a possible mate.
What Are Ground Bees?
Ground bees are very beneficial insects that perform the important service of pollinating your plants. Many of these species are solitary with every individual female building her own nest.
They leave little two-inch mounds of soil where they begin to dig their nests underground. A ground bee might look like a bumblebee or a wasp because those bees and wasps also find home underground.
what is the difference between yellow jackets, “ground bees” and ground nesting bees?
FAQ
What happens when you get stung by ground bees?
Are ground bees harmful to humans?
What kind of bee lives in the ground and stings?
What kind of bees burrow in the ground?
Do ground bees sting?
You typically have nothing to fear from ground bees because they are docile creatures. Females are not territorial and don’t defend their nesting sites. On the other hand, male ground bees tend to be more active and can appear aggressive. However, because they can’t sting, they can’t do any harm. Do Ground Nesting Bees Produce Honey?
How do I remove a bee stinger?
Using a piece of gauze, your fingernail, or another instrument, you may scrape across the stinger to dislodge it from your skin. It is also possible to remove the stinger using tweezers or your fingernail. Acting soon is crucial.
Do digger bees sting?
Yes, digger bees can sting. But is it likely? Not quite. Remember that most digger bees are solitary bees that live alone. They don’t produce honey or live in a hive full of hundreds of other bees. As a result, they’re not territorial. Think about it like this: Honeybees are social bees that live in large colonies of up to 60,000 bees.
Are ground nesting bees responsible for stings?
Ground-nesting bees get a lot of undeserved blame for stings that they simply aren’t responsible for. Despite their claims, many folks have probably never been stung by an actual “ground bee”. Every year I get plenty of calls about “angry stinging ground bees” in late summer, but these are almost always ground-nesting yellowjackets (Vespula spp.).
Do solitary bees sting?
“Solitary bees rarely sting,” says Bolt. “The most aggressive of all bees are honey bees, because they have a hive to defend. Solitary bees, on the other hand, have everything to lose if they sting someone or something and get killed in the process. If the mother dies before the young has been provisioned then her lineage ends.
Do male bees sting?
No male bees can sting. A stinger is a modified egg-laying apparatus that is only found in females. Most of us think all bees live in colonies, or hives, but there are far more species that don’t produce honey, don’t sting and live mostly solitary lives underground.