How To Get Rid Of Ground Bees

Once the weather starts to warm up you will notice a plethora of different bugs in your backyard. One of those species in your garden might be the ground bee. 

How To Get Rid Of Ground Bees

This type of bee is harmless to the human, yet you might find them quite disruptive, especially if you are the type of person who is concerned about the landscape you have created in your backyard.

This is because ground bees like to burrow within the ground to build their nests. For this reason, they are often called ‘digger bees’ as well. Because this type of bee can cause an unsightly display within your backyard, you may want to deter them from visiting. 

If you are looking for how to get rid of ground bees, (see also: How To Get Rid Of Bees)then you have come to the right place. 

What Is A Ground Bee?

Ground bees have several other names which you may have heard to describe them. Some 

of these are mining, digger or solitary bees. This is because there are different types of ground bees. 

Unlike other species of bee which have a queen bee, a ground bee does not. They are a form of solitary bee that does not have a colony. Every single female ground bee is fertile, and they can also be worker bees too.

They collect food to feed the larvae and build burrows underground. 

While the female ground bee does have a stinger, the males do not. Generally this type of bee will not harm you. However, just like with other bees, if you feel like a threat to them, then you may feel a nasty sting!

For this reason, it is never a good idea to wave your arms about trying to get the bee to leave you alone. It is more likely they will sting you. 

What Is The Best Way To Get Rid Of Ground Bees?

There are a number of safe and easy ways to get rid of ground bees(see also: How To Get Rid Of Sweat Bees). Here are some ideas:

Use Scents To Deter The Ground Bees

If for some reason you cannot use your hosepipe, or if you want a long-lasting solution, then using natural scents to deter the ground bees is a good idea.

In a spray bottle add equal parts white vinegar and water. Spray it onto areas that are prone to ground bees and they will stay away. 

You will need to keep reapplying it throughout the day.

Make The Soil Damp

Another sure fire way of keeping the ground bees at bay is by making sure the soil is kept damp. They love dry and sand-like soil that they can burrow into.

If the climate you live in is dry, you will want to water your backyard a few times a day. 

Mulch Your Backyard

Adding mulch, grass seeds and compost to your garden is another great way of deterring those ground bees. 

They will not be able to burrow well in this kind of soil. They prefer grassless patches that are dry and easy to access. 

Are There Benefits To Having Ground Bees In Your Backyard?

There are many benefits to having any bee in your garden. Bees naturally help the ecosystem of the planet by pollinating flowers and vegetation. However, ground bees are said to be really good at it – even better than honey bees.

These types of bees are currently precious, and we must do all we can to keep them living. This is why it is best not to use anything that could kill the bees. Instead, you will just want to deter them from your backyard. 

No doubt there are other backyards who will want ground bees living alongside them. So let them go there instead!

Is There A Way You Can Tell You Have Ground Bees In Your Backyard?

You will know if you have ground bees in your garden because you will see tiny holes and mounds. In fact, you may even see them crawling in and out of them. 

They differ from carpenter bees however. This type of bee creates burrows in wood which may be troublesome for housing structures and so forth. The burrows that ground bees make in the soil actually are not disruptive to anything. 

It really is all to do with whether they are unsightly to you or not. If you don’t mind them, then it may be worth just leaving ground bees alone. 

Why Do You Have Ground Bees In Your Backyard?

The reason you have ground bees in your backyard is likely to be because you have the right kind of soil for them to thrive. 

They love soil that is very well-draining, but also has a sandy texture and a limited amount of vegetation.

How To Get Rid Of Ground Bees (1)

One of the ways to discourage the ground bee colonies from entering your backyard is by making sure the soil is attractive to them. 

You can do this by making sure to water the soil, ensuring it is wetter than it needs to be. You can also mulch the ground and seed it. The ground bee will not want to live in this kind of soil.

When Will Ground Bees Leave Your Backyard?

On average a ground bee will only live (see also: How Long Do Bees Live?)in your soil for up to six weeks at a time. They will begin to emerge once the weather becomes warmer around springtime. 

Once the weather starts to become cooler and fall approaches, the ground bees will soon die off, one by one.

However, as the weather gets warmer again during spring, the ground bees will once again emerge. It is likely that you may get ground bees again if there were larvae present underground.

While they develop underground to become adult bees, they will then emerge once spring has sprung. This is also when mating season begins. 

Final Thoughts

Ground bees are a type of solitary bee that lives(see also: What Bees Live In The Ground?) in dry and sand-like soil. Getting rid of them is easier than you think.

Make sure to leave the soil damp, and add some mulch if you want to make sure that they cannot dig burrows.

Thomas Callaghan
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