Inside: In addition to birds and bugs, there are many 4-footed animals that eat honey bees. Here’s a look at some of the ways you can control them.
Ground bees, including mining bees, sweat bees, and cellophane bees, make up an important group of native pollinators. They nest in underground burrows and are non-aggressive, rarely stinging However, ground bees do face predation threats, especially while nesting and larval stages Certain animal species target ground bees and their nests as food sources.
Mammals
Some of the most notorious bee hunters are mammals. Their keen sense of smell allows them to sniff out bee nests in the soil.
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Skunks dig up ground nests to eat bee larvae and pupae. They seem unfazed by multiple stings to their tough skin and fur.
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Badgers and weasels also excavate nests for larval bees and comb. Their long claws are adapted for exposing hidden burrows.
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Bears rely on rich protein and fat from bee brood and honey. A black bear can decimate a huge area of ground nest aggregations in search of food
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Foxes and coyotes may dig up ground nests, but this is not a primary food source. They more often scavenge for dead bees.
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Small rodents like mice, voles, and chipmunks eat bees that are inactive at night or damaged comb pieces near nest entrances.
Birds
Some bird species supplement their diet with ground-nesting bees.
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Flickers use their pointed beak to hammer into soil to reach bee burrows and extract larvae.
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Robins grab adult ground bees and larval bees from exposed nesting sites.
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Skunks pluck ground bees from the air or pick them off flowers. They can handle multiple stings.
Insects
Winged insects that prey on ground bees include:
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Dragonflies – Able to catch bees midair with their spiny legs.
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Robber flies – Mimic the appearance of bees but catch and eat them.
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Beetles – Some types wait near nests for bees to emerge or invade burrows.
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Ants – Raid bee nests for larvae and honey stores. Able to withstand stings with their hard exoskeletons.
Prevention Methods
While animal predation is a natural process, you can help reduce attacks on ground bee nests:
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Avoid disturbing areas of bare ground where bees are nesting.
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Deter skunks, raccoons, and bears by securing trash and removing other attractants.
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Protect established nest sites with wire mesh or fencing, especially while bees are active.
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Provide alternative water sources to divert thirsty predators.
Supporting healthy ground bee populations through thoughtful garden design and protection of nesting areas will sustain their vital pollination services.
Mice don’t eat bees but they can starve a colony
Mice damage: They get into your hive in early fall and have plenty of time to make a warm nest for the winter. The mice usually just run through the front entrance, paying no heed to the hordes of bees. There are also holes in a screened bottom board where I’ve seen them get in. Make sure any screens you have are in good shape.
Remember that mouse skeletons are extremely flexible. They are famous for folding into spaces that, to us, look way too tiny. The smallest hole in your entrance reducer is plenty of space for a mouse.
The mice build nests with whatever is available. In my area, they use moss that they knit into a big hole in the wax combs. Sometimes the completed nest spans three or more frames.
Nesting mice won’t kill your bees outright; instead, they can starve the entire colony. The mice munch on pollen stores and honeycombs for their winter sustenance. Honey dripping out of the opening or onto the bottom board can be the first sign of mice, so you should always look into honey drips you can’t explain.
Another hint of mice is unexplained debris on the bottom board. Mice might drop pieces of wax comb, nesting material, and fecal matter. If you suspect mice, take a sniff: the scent of mouse urine can become overwhelming inside a beehive. If you have an infrared camera, like a FLIR, you can sometimes see where the nest is.
What you can do: To deter mice, install a mouse guard. These are metal entrance reducers with tiny holes drilled into them. Mice can’t get through the holes because they are round instead of square. The holes are about the size of a bee.
The main thing with mouse guards is to install them early enough in the fall. Often, beekeepers wait until the nest is already established.
Opossums will eat bees at the hive entrance
Damage from opossums: Although they have similar habits, opossums are not as large or dexterous as raccoons. At night, opossums may crawl onto the hives, but they are not skilled at removing lids. They often eat dead bees from the ground at the base of a hive (see picture above), but I’ve never seen one break into or damage a hive.
They can, however, disturb the bees by their presence. If they bother the colony enough, the bees will come out of the hole to see what’s going on. When the bees come out, an opossum will just stand on its hind legs and lick them off the board. Yummy in the tummy.
You can fix it by putting the hive on a stand that is at least 18 inches high. This will make it harder for the bees to get to. Some beekeepers move the entrance higher on the hive, perhaps above the brood boxes.
Alternatively, you can use something like a Havahart trap to catch the critters and move them somewhere else.
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FAQ
What digs up ground bee nests?
How do you get rid of ground bees?
Do possums eat ground bees?
Why do I have ground bees in my yard?
Do bees eat predators?
Bees kill predators like yellowjackets, hornets, spiders, and other creatures trying to attack their nests. But they don’t kill the intruders to eat them. They do it for self-defense. With that said, the terms “predator” and “prey” are regularly used to mean only animals that eat animals.
What animals dig up ground bee nest?
Few will dig them up, & are usually after the larvae. These include skunk, raccoon, black bear &wait for it domestic white ducks (Their primary value as a farm animal-). The bear and other animals that are interested in the wasp’s nest! Q: What animal digs up ground bee nest? Write your answer Still have questions?
What animals eat bees?
Insects – Certain insects like the dragonfly and the robber fly are known to prey on bees and other flying insects. Arachnids – Crab and jumping spiders are known to feed on bees. Reptiles – The chameleon and the monitor lizard, have been known to eat bees and other insects. The relationship between bees and birds is an interesting one.
What predators do bees face?
Bees face several natural predators in their nests and on their foraging trips. From birds and mammals to insects and arachnids, there’s no end to the potential dangers and predators bees encounter.
Do bumble bees eat hornets & wasps?
Many Bumble Bees, Genus Bombus, nest in holes in the ground. I’ve also mowed over a yellow jacket nest once (ouch), so include yellow jackets in the list. Various other wasps nest in the ground. Many animals & insects will eat hornets & wasps, &/or their nests. Few will dig them up, & are usually after the larvae.
Do mammals eat bees?
Mammals like rodents and rabbits may occasionally consume bees as part of their diet, but a few mammals out there are pros at feeding on bees and their nests. Bears regularly eat bees and their larvae, often raiding bee hives searching for honey.