When you think of stinging pests, there might be some basic facts that assault your mind. With bees you may think of the pleasant taste of honey, or thankfully the bee, if it should sting, can only do it once. With wasps and hornets the painful stings that continue to attack you might be a memory better left forgotten, but generally when these stinging pests are in your proximity, you naturally begin your aerial surveillance to detect where the nest or hive might be located. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control suggest you look to the ground as well. Yes there are some unorthodox bees, hornets, and wasps that have built their nests underground, or just above it!
Types & Behaviors of Solitary Ground Bees
Finding mounds in the soil, likened to that of ant mounds, but with larger entry holes is more than likely the cause of a ground bee. There is usually activity of bees hovering just above the area, or the bees coming and going from the burrow. Being more prone to lawns and gardens, ground bees dig their nests in the ground. They are more active during the spring, as they are a fan of pollen like most other bees and are grouped with the beneficial insects. Some species of ground bees include mining bees, sweat bees, and digger bees. Ground bees are not like their aerial counterparts, they are solitary bees, where the other bees are more social. The females burrow their nests underground, where they excavate their nests, produce and care for offspring, bringing them provisions of nectar and pollen. Though they are solitary, ground bees can sometimes be spotted grouped with neighbors. Males will buzz through patrolling for a willing female. Females are equipped with a stinger, but when it comes to flight or fight, they will choose flight more often than not. They will only sting as a last resort if they feel threatened. Males lack a stinger, but during mating season they act aggressive. Sweat bees are really the only startling ground bees, because as their name suggests, they lap up the sweat of humans and will perch on you to satisfy their cravings. They have stingers as well, but will only use it if you instigate a fight with a swat in their direction.
Ground Hornets AKA Cicada Killers
Ground hornets are a little bit of an impostor, as they are actually a sub-species of digger wasps, and are more commonly known in the industry as cicada killers. Ground hornets are easily named the largest of the digger wasps found in the country. Like the ground bees, ground hornets are not social and live a solitary lifestyle. They too are beneficial in keeping the cicada population down, and are not known to be aggressive unless they feel threatened. They do however become a nuisance when their numbers grow and the holes forming in your lawn or garden are getting out of hand.
Ground Wasp Stings
Yellow jackets and digger wasps are common ground wasps. Yellow jackets usually construct their nests underground, but occasionally, they build above ground places in sheltered, dark locations such as crawl spaces, wall voids, fallen trees and thick bushy vegetation are more appealing. Ground wasps are both solitary and social pests. Generally, wasps are not aggressive unless they believe their nest is compromised by perceived threat, and the aggressive repeated stings commence.
Bee, Wasp & Hornet Stinging Pest Inspections, Prevention, Control & Removal in San Antonio, Universal City, New Braunfels & Cibolo Texas
If you find ground sting pests are more of an unwelcome intruder than invited guests, enlist the professionals of A Five Star Termite & Pest Control to come to your rescue. Our expertise and superior methods can get your property free of these ground bees, hornets, and wasps.
