Ground nesting bees or wasps

[joellenr 0]

I am working hard to make my garden wildlife friendly, especially to bees, since they are in such trouble. Until recently, I did not realize that bees nest in the ground.

 

Just a few days ago, I noticed some odd activity near my front sidewalk. Several small insects were buzzing around, up and down, very active. I went to look, and found a hole in the middle of a Cheddar Pink dianthus, and dozens of these black and yellow striped insects flying about, going in and out. I thought perhaps they were ground bees. Today, the woman who helps me weed found three more such holes, each about 5-6 inches in diameter, all within 15 feet of each other, all with lots of activity.

 

What are these? Are they dangerous? Should I remove them -- and if so, how? Finally, why now? When I read about ground bees, I read that nesting takes place in spring. But it's mid-August. What is going on?

 

Jo Ellen Roe

[Dsmith74 16]

Well, "black and yellow striped" describes a lot of the bees and wasps around here. Lots of bees make underground nests. Many of those are solitary and fairly relaxed in temperament. But if there were a lot of them, I'd google yellow jacket (Vespula) and see if anything looks similar. Some of them do make hives underground, and if by "dangerous" you mean can they cause you extreme discomfort, then yes they are.

 

If they are yellow jackets, by this time of year there can be a LOT of workers in that hive, which will all come after you if you cross them and they are easily crossed. But if you don't cross them, most of them will be out hunting other bugs, many of which you probably don't want around. If they're not in an area I or anyone else is likely to absent-mindedly stroll through I leave them alone. Near my front sidewalk would not qualify however, and they would have to go (since disagreements between us tend to send me to the emergency room). The nests don't survive the winter though, so if you can avoid it for the rest of the year it will probably not be there next year - especially if you plug the holes with a few handfuls of soil after they are dead. 

 

I was just reading somewhere online of an organic "folk remedy" to eliminate them. How? After dark put sardines at the entrance hole. How can a dead fish kill a nest of angry yellow jackets? By attracting a skunk! I wouldn't do that in your planting beds though. Skunks are little, stinky rototillers. But I'm dying to know if it works. Failing that, I *carefully* use the Raid wasp and hornet killer in the black spray can. Wash your hands immediately after (or wear latex gloves) and try not to inhale a bunch of it. Those nerve toxin pesticides give me the willies. Shoot it in the hole(s) after dark. You don't need to empty the can like many people do. A five second blast should be plenty. Plants that get hit may not be happy about it.