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Bees nesting in lawn
Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns? The bees
look very like honeybees (from a few feet away) in size and coloration (they are almost certainly not wasps). They aren't particularly aggressive but alas, yesterday one did sting a toddler who grabbed at it while playing on the grass. The nest is in a very central and unavoidable place on a neighbor's property. I'm trying to get information to learn (a) what species these are, and (b) if there's a way to avoid destroying them. (As much as I hate the thought of killing bees, these may in fact be best removed from the gene pool for nesting is such a silly spot as the edge of a front walk.) Many thanks for any information. Carol |
Bees nesting in lawn
There is no way to identify it with a magic crystal ball! You will have to
capture one and bring it to a garden center for identification, or take a photograph. On 19 Aug 2003 12:21:34 GMT, pamnot (CbarRose) opined: Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns? The bees look very like honeybees (from a few feet away) in size and coloration (they are almost certainly not wasps). They aren't particularly aggressive but alas, yesterday one did sting a toddler who grabbed at it while playing on the grass. The nest is in a very central and unavoidable place on a neighbor's property. I'm trying to get information to learn (a) what species these are, and (b) if there's a way to avoid destroying them. (As much as I hate the thought of killing bees, these may in fact be best removed from the gene pool for nesting is such a silly spot as the edge of a front walk.) Many thanks for any information. Carol |
Bees nesting in lawn
tell them to fill a gas powered lawn mower or better something emits smoke and sit it
so smoke crosses the area and the bees will get out. Ingrid pamnot (CbarRose) wrote: Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns? The bees look very like honeybees (from a few feet away) in size and coloration (they are almost certainly not wasps). They aren't particularly aggressive but alas, yesterday one did sting a toddler who grabbed at it while playing on the grass. The nest is in a very central and unavoidable place on a neighbor's property. I'm trying to get information to learn (a) what species these are, and (b) if there's a way to avoid destroying them. (As much as I hate the thought of killing bees, these may in fact be best removed from the gene pool for nesting is such a silly spot as the edge of a front walk.) Many thanks for any information. Carol ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ List Manager: Puregold Goldfish List http://puregold.aquaria.net/ www.drsolo.com Solve the problem, dont waste energy finding who's to blame ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Unfortunately, I receive no money, gifts, discounts or other compensation for all the damn work I do, nor for any of the endorsements or recommendations I make. |
Bees nesting in lawn
Lar wrote:
In article 20030819082134.21828.00000710@mb- m07.aol.com, pamnot says... :) The nest is in a very central and unavoidable place on a neighbor's property. :) I'm trying to get information to learn (a) what species these are, and (b) if :) there's a way to avoid destroying them. (As much as I hate the thought of :) killing bees, these may in fact be best removed from the gene pool for nesting :) is such a silly spot as the edge of a front walk.) :) They are probably Yellow Jackets (wasps) rather than bees. With their size and coloration they are commonly mistaken for bees and they can get more aggressive towards the end of Summer -- They aren't yellow jackets, nor any sort of wasp I've ever seen. I've gardened for years and have seen enough yellow jackets to make that distinction. I wish they were, because then I'd be able to advise my neighbors to get them zapped. Right now, I'm trying to figure out a more conservative approach, because, fortunately, no one has become hysterical......yet! Thanks for a very logical suggestion....I wish it were so. Carol |
Bees nesting in lawn
animaux wrote:
There is no way to identify it with a magic crystal ball! You will have to capture one and bring it to a garden center for identification, or take a photograph. On 19 Aug 2003 12:21:34 GMT, pamnot (CbarRose) opined: Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns? The bees look very like honeybees (from a few feet away) in size and coloration (they are almost certainly not wasps). They aren't particularly aggressive but alas, yesterday one did sting a toddler who grabbed at it while playing on the grass. The nest is in a very central and unavoidable place on a neighbor's property. I'm trying to get information to learn (a) what species these are, and (b) if there's a way to avoid destroying them. (As much as I hate the thought of killing bees, these may in fact be best removed from the gene pool for nesting is such a silly spot as the edge of a front walk.) Many thanks for any information. Carol Thank you for a reasonable suggestion, but these bees are swarming around the nest area and it wouldn't be possible to capture one. I realize the identification I gave is vague; I guess I'm just looking to narrow down the possibilities so I can do some more online research. I've tried searching for "ground-nesting social bees" and the like, and have had lots of hits but no real means of identification. (And it may not matter.....!) By the way, I'm in the northeastern USA, if that helps with anything. Thanks again, Carol |
Bees nesting in lawn
In article ,
CbarRose wrote: Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns? The bees look very like honeybees (from a few feet away) in size and coloration (they are almost certainly not wasps). They aren't particularly aggressive but alas, yesterday one did sting a toddler who grabbed at it while playing on the grass. The nest is in a very central and unavoidable place on a neighbor's property. I'm trying to get information to learn (a) what species these are, and (b) if there's a way to avoid destroying them. (As much as I hate the thought of killing bees, these may in fact be best removed from the gene pool for nesting is such a silly spot as the edge of a front walk.) Many thanks for any information. Carol How social? According to a number of sites, there are a number of ground-nesting bees, and while most are *relatively* solitary, they can nest in groups. See: ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2143.html Another site claims that Africanized honeybees will nest in the ground: http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/publich..._bee_facts.asp billo |
Bees nesting in lawn
(Bill Oliver) wrote:
In article , CbarRose wrote: Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns? The bees look very like honeybees (from a few feet away) in size and coloration (they are almost certainly not wasps). They aren't particularly aggressive but alas, yesterday one did sting a toddler who grabbed at it while playing on the grass. The nest is in a very central and unavoidable place on a neighbor's property. I'm trying to get information to learn (a) what species these are, and (b) if there's a way to avoid destroying them. (As much as I hate the thought of killing bees, these may in fact be best removed from the gene pool for nesting is such a silly spot as the edge of a front walk.) Many thanks for any information. Carol How social? According to a number of sites, there are a number of ground-nesting bees, and while most are *relatively* solitary, they can nest in groups. See: ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2143.html Another site claims that Africanized honeybees will nest in the ground: http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/publich..._bee_facts.asp The first site you indicated above was one I'd visited earlier but I just went back and reread the following which appears under the Bumble Bee section: Colonies are annual, lasting only one summer. There are usually less than 200 individuals in a colony and nests are generally found in open grasslands. The queen establishes the nest site by lining an existing cavity with dry grass or moss. She collects a mass of pollen and moistens this with nectar to produce a stored food called "bee bread." The first brood of spring numbers 5 to 20, all workers, who enlarge the nest, gather food and feed the larvae. The queen continues to lay eggs throughout the summer and by late summer, reproductive males and females are produced. These mate during flight and fertilized females move to overwintering sites. Remaining males and workers in the colony die with frost or the first hard freeze. Nests can be detected by the presence of many males flying about the entrance. Stinging workers, sometimes called "dive bombers," can respond quickly when their territory is invaded. Easily irritated, workers will aggressively pursue an intruder attempting to escape. This is the scenario we're witnessing now, with many males flying around the entrance. My neighbors have summoned, through the advice of the township, a local beekeeper, who confirms the identification. We are seeing, for the most part, a hundred or more very nonaggressive males, but the child was stung yesterday by a stinging worker, and there's no way to avoid that happening again. If the nest were in a place that could be cordoned off and avoided, it would pose no hazard. However, it borders a heavily-trafficked sidewalk where kids ride bikes and play. Anyway, thanks to all for your timely and helpful responses. For now, I'm leaving it to my neighbors, who are leaning towards having the colony destroyed. (If it were on my lawn, I'd find another way.) Thanks all, Carol |
Bees nesting in lawn
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Bees nesting in lawn
In article 20030819210527.15568.00000267@mb-
m12.aol.com, pamnot says... :) The bees are 1/2 - 3/4 inches in length (they aren't uniform in size), and more :) round than slender. The abdomen is dark, the thorax is yellow with some black. :) (I know, pretty lousy description!) Several I saw today going into the nest :) hole had pollen baskets. T :) Got me curious now...sounds like digger bees other than they will have their own nest near others bees in an area rather than being one nest with many bees. -- http://home.comcast.net/~larflu/ter_a.jpg Lar. (to e-mail, get rid of the BUGS!! |
Bees nesting in lawn
Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns?
Could be "digger" bees, (anthropodidae): http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/diggers.htm sed5555 |
Bees nesting in lawn
(Sed5555) wrote:
Would someone here help identify a social bee that nests in lawns? Could be "digger" bees, (anthropodidae): http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/diggers.htm To sed5555, larflu, Beecrofter, and all who responded to my quest: I got a better look this morning and the bees are almost certainly digger bees. Yellow fuzzy thorax with a dark spot in the midpart of the back; black head; black abdomen with (I think I can see) a yellow first segment. 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch, sizes not uniform. Flight seems fast and zigzaggy right now, but I'm not sure if that's a constant over the course of the day (and I don't the characteristics of digger bee flight, anyway). But most importantly, pollen-dusted bees are going into individual holes that are very close to one another, over an area of about 30 square feet. The first day we saw a large number of bees (100 or more) over what seemed to be one hole. It also seemed as if multiples of bees were going in and out of that one hole. However, I now believe that our activity in the area (with the kids playing, etc.) caused the disorientation, perhaps. There is still one hole that's much larger than the others, and I'm wondering if it would be possible that most of nests are digger bee nests, with the large one belonging to a colony of social bees? (It doesn't look as if it were enlarged by other wildlife.) Either way, these bees are some of the most gentle bees (according to their behavior.....the toddler actually grabbed the bee and it was down her shirt before she was stung). I'm so grateful for the responses from this terrific group. I'm trying to save these bees for many reasons, not the least of which is that these are the very ones that pollinate my flowers and work side by side with me in my garden a few houses away. Thanks so very much, Carol Northeastern U.S. |
Bees nesting in lawn
pamnot (CbarRose) wrote in
: I got a better look this morning and the bees are almost certainly digger bees. I thought you said that your neighbors said that the local beekeeper said that they were bumblebees: pamnot (CbarRose) wrote in : The first site you indicated above was one I'd visited earlier but I just went back and reread the following which appears under the Bumble Bee section: snip This is the scenario we're witnessing now, with many males flying around the entrance. My neighbors have summoned, through the advice of the township, a local beekeeper, who confirms the identification. We pamnot (CbarRose) wrote in : Yellow fuzzy thorax with a dark spot in the midpart of the back; black head; black abdomen with (I think I can see) a yellow first segment I doesn's seem to match the digger bee picture in the link provided by sed5555 ... shiny green non-spotted thorax, head hard to tell but looks greenish, does have yellow segment. Is it a carpenter bee? http://www.prokillpestcontrol.biz/bees.htm They have a dark spot on the thorax and looks like it might have a yellow thin segment. Wow, searching for pictures ... there are an awful lot of kids, pets and Autobots masquerading as bumblebees. -- Salty |
Bees nesting in lawn
Salty Thumb wrote:
(CbarRose) wrote in : I got a better look this morning and the bees are almost certainly digger bees. I thought you said that your neighbors said that the local beekeeper said that they were bumblebees: (CbarRose) wrote in : The first site you indicated above was one I'd visited earlier but I just went back and reread the following which appears under the Bumble Bee section: snip This is the scenario we're witnessing now, with many males flying around the entrance. My neighbors have summoned, through the advice of the township, a local beekeeper, who confirms the identification. We Yup, he did, but he was hesitant at first, so I guess we can assume his area of knowledge is limited to honeybees (and he said as much). I was going by the behavior and not the description, because, as I noted later, they didn't seem fuzzy enough to be bumble bees. (I'm learning all this stuff as I go along, of course!) According to something I just read at a website, there are over 900 species of digger bees in North America, so appearance must vary. (CbarRose) wrote in : Yellow fuzzy thorax with a dark spot in the midpart of the back; black head; black abdomen with (I think I can see) a yellow first segment I doesn's seem to match the digger bee picture in the link provided by sed5555 ... shiny green non-spotted thorax, head hard to tell but looks greenish, does have yellow segment. That picture seemed a bit too sketchy (literally) to rely on. Is it a carpenter bee? http://www.prokillpestcontrol.biz/bees.htm They have a dark spot on the thorax and looks like it might have a yellow thin segment. Back to the drawing board on that one. I've found numerous different descriptions and photos of carpenter bees.. Some look somewhat like the bees in question, some not. Behavior, however, seems dissimilar, but am not ruling them out. Wow, searching for pictures ... there are an awful lot of kids, pets and Autobots masquerading as bumblebees. Yes, it's certainly been quite a trek through masses of not-too-fabulous photos (and lots of cutesy things). Thanks, Salty. Looks like this ain't over yet! Carol |
Bees nesting in lawn
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