Paul E. Lehmann wrote:
janet wrote:


I noticed some small bees hovering around a spot
at the edge of one of
my garden areas. I tried spraying with
wasp/hornet spray a couple of
times, but they're still there. I'm allergic to
bees and wasps, have to carry epi-pens with me
at all times, and need to keep bees and
wasps from nesting in my yard. I don't think
there are not a lot of bees there yet, so it
seems to me that now is the time to get rid of
them.

Thanks for any suggestions on how to get rid of
them.


Regardless of what others may have said about
being "harmless" "pollinators" and all that other
stuff - I know what you are talking about and
from my experience in Central Maryland they are
Aggressive and will attack if you get near their
nest. I have been stung many times when mowing
the yard and not even knowing they were there.
Do whatever you can to get rid of the *******s.
I am seldom stung by any other bee or wasp.

You sound like you describing the actions of true yellow jackets. They
will often nest in the ground but they are a socialized colony using one
nest with plenty of guards to attack any disturbance near the nest.
Digger bees are solitary bees that will nest near other digger bees so
you will have an area with many individual bee nests (small holes in the
ground). The stingerless male is what is most commonly seen, and the
female the sole provider of her nest is more times than not, away
gathering food for her brood. I know a number of people that have been
stung by them but all cases where happenstance rather than an organized
attack.

Lar