Place to ID some ground-dwelling bees?

[Bert Hyman]

Over the past few days I've noticed small dark brown bees going in
and out of holes in ground in the area we've cleared for this
years tomato plants. The holes are surrounded by tiny mounds of loose
dirt, just like ant hills. The bees look like half-size honey bees
except that they're a darker brown color. I'm not particularly
interested in killing them, but I would like them to go away.

Can anybody suggest a Web site with pictures where I can ID these
critters? My Google searches have produced too many results to be
useful.

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN |

[Twobtold]

>From: Bert Hyman


>Can anybody suggest a Web site with pictures where I can ID these
>critters? My Google searches have produced too many results to be
>useful.

Digger Bee?
http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/insects
/bees/digger_bee/

[Bert Hyman]

(Twobtold) wrote in
:

>>From: Bert Hyman

>
>>Can anybody suggest a Web site with pictures where I can ID these
>>critters? My Google searches have produced too many results to be
>>useful.
>
> Digger Bee?
> http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/i
> nsects /bees/digger_bee/

Based on the description there, I don't think so. However, one
species of the "leafcutting bee" at the same site looks like a closer
fit.

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN |

[Cindy]

Trying to get bees to just 'go away' is an impossible task. Trying spaying
the entire area with soap. I found plain dishwashing liq. worked best for me
to rid myself of a nest of yellow jackets that NOTHING would kill. Seems the
soap melts the exoskeleton of the little critters.


Cindy

--
All outgoing mail scanned for viruses.
"Bert Hyman" > wrote in message
...
> Over the past few days I've noticed small dark brown bees going in
> and out of holes in ground in the area we've cleared for this
> years tomato plants. The holes are surrounded by tiny mounds of loose
> dirt, just like ant hills. The bees look like half-size honey bees
> except that they're a darker brown color. I'm not particularly
> interested in killing them, but I would like them to go away.
>
> Can anybody suggest a Web site with pictures where I can ID these
> critters? My Google searches have produced too many results to be
> useful.
>
> --
> Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN |

[J. Del Col]

"Cindy" > wrote in message >...
> Trying to get bees to just 'go away' is an impossible task. Trying spaying
> the entire area with soap. I found plain dishwashing liq. worked best for me
> to rid myself of a nest of yellow jackets that NOTHING would kill. Seems the
> soap melts the exoskeleton of the little critters.


Chitin is soluble only in concentrated sulfuric and hydrochloric acids
and glacial acetic acid. It is essentially insoluble in anything
else, including alkalis, dilute acids, organic solvents or water.

The detergent is a wetting agent and may have made it impossible for
the YJ's to dry themselves, but it didn't dissolve their exoskeletons.

J. Del Col