Ground bees - how long do they last?

[Anonymous]

Our front lawn looks like it has acne at the moment. A flurry of ground bee activity. I know they are not aggressive and are good for the environment, but how long with they be in residence?

We only moved in last fall, so this is new for us.

[Anonymous]

No one?

[Anonymous]

Couple of weeks.

Our house, which we bought two years ago, had them when we were going back and forth with the offer, and we asked to have them removed since we didn't know what they were, and we got schooled in them.

This year the problem is that DS, 3, is deathly afraid of what he calls "bumblebees" so it's going to be a long two weeks...

[Anonymous]

You can spray them with water, and they (realizing that having tunnels in water prone area is not a good idea), will move away.

Set sprinkler to soak the lawn area where bees are, and they'll move away. Give them a week or so.

Keep an eye out though, to make sure they don't resettle elsewhere on the property.

[Anonymous]

At least with my neighbors that have them they seem to come back every year. Since they are so good for the environment and harmless I think that you just put up with them for a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

OP here- it's like a curtain of bees between my front door and the curb. Will try the water - or ask them nicely to thin the herd.

[Anonymous]

Do these bees like shrubs? Wondering if these are what we have too.

[Anonymous]

My dad used to wait until dark and then take the gas can and soak the hole. Then he dropped a match down it and ran like hell.

[Anonymous]

I would spray them

[Anonymous]

I had this problem and they did not go away with any amount of spraying. You will need to get a professional to treat the problem. Once they come and do their job, you will never see them again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My dad used to wait until dark and then take the gas can and soak the hole. Then he dropped a match down it and ran like hell.

My dad too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dad used to wait until dark and then take the gas can and soak the hole. Then he dropped a match down it and ran like hell.

My dad too.

Except these guys each make their own hole. It looks like this:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/O&T/lawn/note100/moundslawn2.jpg

[Anonymous]

Ground bees are not honey bees which are good for the environment. They are yellow jackets that are aggressive. Remove them. I suggest professionally because spraying with chemicals can harm good insects in your area.

This is coming from someone who has honey bee hives in our backyard (on purpose).

This is a good link that shows and explains the different types of bees.
http://www.thebeehunter.com/types-of-bees.html#groundbees

[Anonymous]

About two weeks. I had them at my old house for a few years. After time I'm told they won't come back as they have sort of used up the area.
They really are harmless -- I used to mow right through them. Never a single sting. Please consider letting them alone. I know its a pain but we need the bees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ground bees are not honey bees which are good for the environment. They are yellow jackets that are aggressive. Remove them. I suggest professionally because spraying with chemicals can harm good insects in your area.

This is coming from someone who has honey bee hives in our backyard (on purpose).

This is a good link that shows and explains the different types of bees.
http://www.thebeehunter.com/types-of-bees.html#groundbees

Ugh thanks for the link! I'm the shrub poster and they look like either honeybees or hornets. Fuzzy thorax. Calling pest control.