Darrelynne Strotheris a beekeeper and the founder of Chateaux Cocoa, a Maryland-based farm and art store.
What Are Ground Bees?
Common types of ground bees include leafcutter, sweat, mason, cellophane, and plasterer bees.
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And their nests can become home to colonies ofaggressive wasps that nestin the ground too.
A tell-tale sign of ground bees is anthill-like nests popping up across your lawn.
Their nests look like small mounds of soil with a single pencil-size hole at the top.
Since they are solitary and don’t live in colonies, each female digs her own nest.
Still, you will likely see many nests clustered together in a small area.
you’ve got the option to also identify ground bees by their appearance.
However, ground bees are usually hairier and more rotund.
Some species also appear in shades of metallic green or blue.
Cover Nesting Holes
Use heavy items such as bricks and rocks to block nesting holes.
It will discourage ground bees from returning to their established burrows.
This method also keeps current ground bees inside the nest from reaching the surface.
Soak Your Lawn
Ground bees thrive indry, sandy soilwith sparse vegetation, such as grass and weeds.
Use Natural Plant Repellents
Certain plants, such asmint,eucalyptus, andcitronella, are known to repel bees.
Planting these around the areas where ground bees nest can encourage them to move elsewhere.
Alternatively, homeowners can eliminate bees using essential oils like peppermint,tea tree, or eucalyptus.
Mix water with a few drops of the essential oils in a spray bottle.
Spray it around the nesting area.
Go with Garlic or Cinnamon
Garlic is anothernatural repellent.
Crushgarlic cloves in warm water.
Let the mixture sit for a few hours before straining and spraying it around the nest.
Sprinkling cinnamon around the nest can be an effective deterrent too.
Bees dislike the strong smell and will often relocate if cinnamon is applied consistently over several days.
The acidity of the vinegar is unpleasant for the bees, encouraging them to find a new nesting site.
Use Soapy Water
A dish soap and water mixture can effectively and naturally discourage ground bees.
Pour the solution into the nest entrance in the evening, when bees are less active.
It’s safe for humans and pets but harmful to insects.
Sprinkle the powder directly around the nest entrance.
Ground bees are solitary and less aggressive than other bees.
By leaving them undisturbed, you contribute to the health and productivity of your garden and the broader ecosystem.
They play a vital role in pollinating plants, flowers, and crops.
They also help control pest populations by preying on harmful insects and their larvae.
Strother says none of the ground bee nests from last year returned after the active season.
To keep them from coming back, she treats the area where they nested with ground cinnamon regularly.
Regularly irrigating your lawn and garden can deter ground bees from establishing nests.
Considerapplying a thick layer of mulchor compost to garden beds to discourage bees from burrowing.
Address any bare patches in your yard where ground bees are more likely to nest.
Reseed orplant groundcoversin these areas to create a less inviting environment.
