Ground Bees

Andrenidae, or ground bees, do not form a bee hive. They are solitary nesters that create underground galleries with the nest entrance concealed as patches of bare soil. They do not harm the soil. Most ground bees are natives. Often they have been nesting in or near the same site for millennia.

Unlike slick and carnivorous hornets and yellow jackets, the fuzzy little ground bee queen is a solitary nester, is usually docile and generally does not sting. While the males may appear aggressive, they lack stingers.

Common ground bees have a similar appearance to the European honeybee with their gold and black striped, hairy body. Other ground bee types have a more vibrant and colorful range, including metallic green.

While ground bees are not honey bees, they are pollination bees, which makes them a beneficial insect. During the short four to six weeks of the year when these bees are actively raising their young they are very busy and interesting to watch.

Ground bees are usually noticed they become active in the yard. They can be seen hovering about close to the ground, and entering the underground burrows.

We recommend that people who find that they have ground bees nesting on their property make peace with them and adopt a sense of responsibility and stewardship for these little native creatures.

Perhaps let them complete their natural cycle this year and then prepare to deter them from using the same location again next year so that they nest somewhere else in subsequent years.

However, if you feel it’s necessary to remove ground bees from your lawn, there are some safe and simple solutions you can try.

Deterring Ground Bees

Discourage ground bees from moving in to areas of your yard where they are a pest. Perhaps, let them have a different space where they are less of a nuisance.

Change the Micro-Environment

Ground bees often build their underground nests where the soil is dry or only a little moist. That’s why you generally find their nests in under shelter or outer edges of gardens where the dirt gets less water. They usually inhabit areas of bare earth or places that are either sparsely planted or planted with plants that cope well with dryer soil.

In early spring or after the bees have moved on after their nesting season dig living soil or compost into the patch of ground where the bees like to nest. Either plant the area out with moisture loving plants and then set up a self-water system or mulch the area well and be sure to keep it moist during the spring when ground bees are seeking a suitable nesting site.

Plant Ground Bee Deterrent Plants and Shrubs

Begin by ensuring that your lawn is thick and full of healthy grass to make burrowing more difficult for bees. Plant peppermint, eucalyptus, basil, geraniums, marigolds, wormwood, and pitcher plants around the vicinity of your lawn to force ground bees to choose another location for their home.

Natural Ground Bee Repellent

Household scraps:

Cucumber peels
Coffee grounds

Bees are not fond of cucumbers or coffee grounds.

Rather than throw away your cucumber peels, place them in your yard to repel ground bees. The same applies to your used coffee grounds. Use coffee grounds for garden and plants to keep bees away and fertilize the soil at the same time.

Herbal repellents:

Garlic powder
Cinnamon

Ground bees dislike these two very volatizing aromatic spices, the smell of garlic and of cinnamon can deter them from nesting in your yard. Sprinkle a decent layer of ground garlic powder or cinnamon powder around the vicinity of the possible nesting site. Reapply after each rainfall.

Repel Ground Bees

If you have ground bees and need them to move out in the middle of their nesting cycle you can try these measures.

Wet Them Out

Ground bees love living in their underground nest when the soil is dry. That’s why you generally find their nests in outer edges of gardens where the dirt gets less water. Encourage bees to find a new home by making their current one wet.

Lawn Watering

Garden hose
Mulch

Spray the dry soil regularly to keep the ground moist. Once the ground bees evacuate, place layers of mulch in areas around the garden that tend to dry out quickly or plant more vegetation.

Other natural repellents

Camphor mothballs
Citrus peel sprays

Using Moth Balls to Drive away Ground Bees

Mothballs contain camphor which drives away many insects, including bees. Here is a smart way to utilize them to drive away large numbers of ground bees.

Mothball Bee Deterrent

Mesh bags
Mothballs
Garden plant hanger

Place several mothballs into a fine mesh bag. Find the location of the ground bee nest and push the stake end of a garden plant hanger into the ground beside it.

Tie the mesh bag to the hook portion of the plant hanger so that it is hanging directly over the underground nest. The smell of mothballs over their nest quickly drives them to look for another home.

As a Last Resort - Destroy Ground Bees

Though we hope to dissuade folks from killing bees it may be necessary as a last resort to destroy ground bees.

Trapping Ground Bees

Getting rid of ground bees by trapping them is one of the easiest ways to eliminate them, and you probably have items around your yard that do the trick. It’s also an eco-friendly way to eradicate bees. Once you discover the location of the bees nest, fill the burrow with soil or concrete, or cover the entrance with a heavy brick, or landscaping stone. Almost any heavy, solid material is suitable for trapping the bees.

Minty Spray

Bees do not like peppermint, and soapy water makes them unable to fly while suffocating them. Eliminate an underground bees nest with a natural soap and peppermint spray. This solution kills just about any insect it contacts.

Ground Bee Mint Spray

2 cups of peppermint Castile Soap
2 cups of water
Saucepan
Spray bottle

Combine the water and Castile peppermint soap in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Allow the mixture to cool before pouring it into a spray bottle.

Spray or pour the minty solution directly into the entrance of the ground bee nest to saturate it. This spray also works when sprayed directly onto the bee.

Vinegar Spray

White vinegar is a natural bee deterrent and killer. The acidic liquid dries out their exoskeleton and drives them out of their nest. This solution is also great for killing many other insect pests in the yard, like gnats on plants and slugs or mosquitoes in the area.

Vinegar Spray

1 cup white vinegar
1 cup of water
Spray bottle

Fill a bottle sprayer with equal parts white vinegar and water and shake well to mix. If you plan on using the solution more than once, make sure to label it.

Spray the vinegar solution in and around the nest. This spray may anger the bees, so wear protective clothing and spray the nest at night to prevent bee stings from female bees.

Vinegar has numerous uses in the garden. It works to eliminate aphid infestations, serves as a grub worm treatment, and is one of the best home remedies for fungus gnats that may have invaded the soil of container plants.

DIY Ground Bee Spray

While bees have an affinity to certain scents from flowers and fruits, they also hate specific scents and steer away from them. Use these scents to drive ground bees from your yard naturally. As a bonus, keep a bottle of this remedy as a way to repel yellow jackets from your deck or patio when you are outside.

DIY Ground Bee Spray

Cinnamon oil
Peppermint oil
Tea tree oil
1 cup unscented baby shampoo
Spray bottle

Pour baby shampoo into a spray bottle and add one drop each of peppermint, tea tree, and cinnamon oil to the soap. Swirl the bottle gently to mix and spray the solution around the bee infested area.

Use dish soap as a substitute if you do not have baby shampoo. The soap helps the oils to stick longer, providing an unpleasant smell for the bees.

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