Ground-Nesting Bees Are Somehow Both Solitary & Social

Ground-Nesting Bees Are Somehow Both Solitary & Social

Summary: Bees are usually associated with their trademark hives, but some bees nest in the ground. This blog details the lives and nesting habits of ground-nesting bees. Each section is about a different aspect of the bee’s life, including the nests, diet, species, and pest status. Pointe Pest Control provides efficient pest control all year long.

We know all about bees, but have you heard of ground-nesting bees? These bees live in the ground (big surprise) rather than the nests that we’re accustomed to seeing high in trees and on eaves. The bad news is that it’s very easy to accidentally disturb their subterranean nests, but the good news is that these bees are some of the most docile insects around!

Ground-nesting bees are a bit more unique in their habits. They don’t live in giant colonies descended from one queen, and their life’s purpose isn’t to expand and sustain an intricate nest. So what do these bees do with their days, anyway? Let’s find out by exploring the habits, nests, and common species of the ground-nesting bees.

What Are Ground-Nesting Bees?

First of all, let’s define the term “ground-nesting bees” before we get into anything deeper (pun intended). The bees that fall under this category live underground in small holes that the females carve into dry soil. Each “nest” has a mother and her offspring, which she feeds pollen and nectar that she retrieves from nearby flowers.

It might be surprising to learn that about 70% of bee species nest underground, considering the number of elevated hives we see every year. The females in this group are incredibly docile and rarely defend their nests. They will even pollinate the same plants as other bees who live next door to their own nest. As long as each bee can care for her own family, there’s no problems in the ground-nesting bee community.

The Hidden Nests

On the topic of these nests, it’s important to note that the bees only nest in completely dry soil. They won’t even try nesting in watery or mulch-covered soil (keep that in mind), as dry dirt is the easiest to work with. A bee nest has a small mound of dirt at the entrance, which is a hole that’s less than one inch wide. The excess dirt is what the bee cleared out of her newly-created nest. Female bees are responsible for creating and cleaning their nests.

These nests are often seen in sparse lawns since there’s less grass to get in the bee’s way. Larger bees, like bumblebees, can use abandoned rodent burrows as their secondhand nest. Ground-nesting bees don’t mind living close to other bees, so it’s not uncommon to see several nests in one area. If you see quite a few bees hovering near a certain area of the yard — and they’re not visiting the flowers — you may have an invasion on your hands.

3 Common Species

While some species are specific to certain regions, there are a few that seem to pop up in most areas. These bees are slow to sting since they’re not aggressive and don’t have a colony to protect. They still don’t like their offspring or home being threatened, but these bees aren’t as reactionary as other stinging insects.

The 3 most common ground-nesting bees we see are:

• Bumblebees — The queens (reproducing females) are the only ones who overwinter. Otherwise, each bumblebee generation dies before the cold sets in at all. Unlike honeybees, they don’t make honey out of the nectar and pollen they gather through buzz pollination. This is when they “buzz” or vibrate close enough to a flower to dislodge its resources.

• Miner Bees — These are some of the friendliest bees around, so there’s no cause for panic when miner bees make an appearance in your yard. They are fuzzy with pale yellow and black coloring. Although miner bees live in tight clusters with other miner bees, each bee only cares for her own nest and offspring. They reuse the same nest location every year.

• Sweat Bees — Sweat bees are the odd bees out based on their appearance. They’re metallic or dark in color, so it’s easy to mistake them for flies. They can be pretty territorial, but they don’t immediately resort to stinging.Sweat bees got their name from their habit of licking our sweat (gross!) off our bodies. This is how they get some of their vital nutrients.

Yellow Jackets vs. Ground-Nesting Bees

All of this talk about bees that create underground nests leads our minds to wander to another striped stinging pest that prefers to stay under cover. Yellow jackets are also known for nesting in the ground and hovering above the grass, so what makes them so different from ground-nesting bees?

Well, quite a few things, actually. These are the facts to note about yellow jackets:

• They build nests in ground cavities, rodent burrows, attics, and wall voids.

• Their underground nests have an entrance hole that’s over an inch wide.

• There’s constant activity around their nest, with yellow jackets coming and going.

• They are some of the most aggressive stinging insects and won’t hesitate to attack enemies.

Conversely, these are the important facts on ground-nesting bees:

• They only build nests in dry soil, like in sparse lawns and gardens.

• Their nests have an entrance that’s less than an inch wide, about the width of a pencil.

• They’re slower and are not active busybodies around their nests.

• They’re not very defensive and will only sting when they are roughly-handled.

If you asked us, we’d much rather have a ground bee invasion than a yellow jacket infestation. One is a friendly, ground-dwelling pollinator, while the other is an angry invader that hates anyone who dares to challenge their colony.

Are They Even A Pest?

Bees that nest underground seem like a tough problem to solve since they spend their lives actively hiding from the outside world. However, it’s important to note that these insects aren’t the most worrisome ones that we’ll come across. Ground-nesting bees aren’t destructive, aggressive, or long-living.

Don’t get us wrong: you don’t want your lawn full of bee nests! Too many holes can ruin the lawn, and the bees won’t be too fond of the lawn mower. But a couple bee nests aren’t the end of the world and can even aerate the lawn in a helpful manner. Besides, all it takes is a heavy rainfall to wash the soil back into the holes and seal the openings.

Ground-nesting bees are reliable pollinators for all kinds of plants, including flowers and fruit trees. The only real danger ground-nesting bees pose to us is if you or anyone in your home is allergic to bee stings. These bees don’t like to sting us, but they will if their nest is thoroughly disturbed. Approach any bee nest with caution, and leave the removal to the pros.

Preventing & Treating The Problem

Ground-nesting bees aren’t the worst pest problem you could face, but it’s still a good idea to talk about prevention tips. These bees usually emerge in early spring once the weather is consistently warm. We don’t want to eliminate every bee on Earth — they’re important pollinators — so this is just about encouraging them to build their nests elsewhere.

Our top tips for preventing and treating ground-nesting bees are:

• Have a healthy lawn. Since these bees nest in sparse, patchy lawns, having a healthy lawn is the best way to prevent them from invading your grass. Use fertilizer and a consistent sprinkler schedule to maintain the lawn in the warmer months.

• Use mulch in the garden. Similar to the previous tip, bees won’t nest in soil that’s covered in mulch. If you don’t already, consider using mulch in your garden, flower beds, and other soil-heavy areas of the yard.

• Soak the entrances to any nests. A little water goes a long way with ground-nesting bees. When their nest entrances are gently soaked with water, the bees need to find another place to build their homes.

• Fill vacated holes with soil. If you know that there aren’t any more bees in an empty underground nest, prevent them from returning by filling the holes with new soil. It’s an extra help to soak the soil with water because the bees are searching for dry soil.

• Contact your local pest control professionals. Although most pest control services (including ours) don’t eliminate beneficial bees, having a pest professional assess the problem and offer their suggestions is the most trustworthy way to solve a ground-nesting bee problem.

Pointe’s Services Are All The Buzz

Bees are important pollinators that help our ecosystem, but that doesn’t mean we welcome every bug into our homes! At Pointe Pest Control, we’re committed to solving each pest problem one effective step at a time. We tackle each pest issue with a combination of inspections, customized plans, targeted treatments, and preventative measures. If you have a pest problem, Pointe has the solution.

Spring is just around the corner, so why not equip your home with the most reliable pest protection around? Our licensed technicians are dedicated to providing efficient solutions to Illinois and Indiana’s most troublesome pest issues. Contact us today for a free quote on our services — you’ll be glad you did!

Citations

Anderson, A. (2025, January 23). What to know about sweat bees. WebMD. Available at https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-to-know-about-sweat-bees (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Dillon, R. (2023, November 17). How to safely get rid of ground nesting bees. The Bee Hunter. Available at https://beehunterma.com/how-to-safely-get-rid-of-ground-nesting-bees/ (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Gallagher, K. (2022, July 28). 15 buzzworthy bumblebee facts. Treehugger. Available at https://www.treehugger.com/bumblebee-facts-5119379 (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Ground nesting bees: Are they a threat to you or your lawn?. (2016, May). New Garden. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://newgarden.com/notes/ground-nesting-bees

Miller, L. (n.d.). Welcoming ground-nesting bees to your garden. PlantersPlace.com. Available at https://plantersplace.com/wild-life-gardening-journal/welcoming-ground-nesting-bees-to-your-garden/ (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Rourke, K. (n.d.). Miner bee (Anthophora abrupta). U.S. Forest Service. Available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/anthophora-abrupta.shtml (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Should I be concerned about ground nesting bees in my yard?. (2019, May 15). University of New Hampshire. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/schoolipm/structural-pest-id-guide/solitary-ground-bees

Ground-Nesting Bees Are Somehow Both Solitary & Social

Summary: Bees are usually associated with their trademark hives, but some bees nest in the ground. This blog details the lives and nesting habits of ground-nesting bees. Each section is about a different aspect of the bee’s life, including the nests, diet, species, and pest status. Pointe Pest Control provides efficient pest control all year long.

We know all about bees, but have you heard of ground-nesting bees? These bees live in the ground (big surprise) rather than the nests that we’re accustomed to seeing high in trees and on eaves. The bad news is that it’s very easy to accidentally disturb their subterranean nests, but the good news is that these bees are some of the most docile insects around!

Ground-nesting bees are a bit more unique in their habits. They don’t live in giant colonies descended from one queen, and their life’s purpose isn’t to expand and sustain an intricate nest. So what do these bees do with their days, anyway? Let’s find out by exploring the habits, nests, and common species of the ground-nesting bees.

What Are Ground-Nesting Bees?

First of all, let’s define the term “ground-nesting bees” before we get into anything deeper (pun intended). The bees that fall under this category live underground in small holes that the females carve into dry soil. Each “nest” has a mother and her offspring, which she feeds pollen and nectar that she retrieves from nearby flowers.

It might be surprising to learn that about 70% of bee species nest underground, considering the number of elevated hives we see every year. The females in this group are incredibly docile and rarely defend their nests. They will even pollinate the same plants as other bees who live next door to their own nest. As long as each bee can care for her own family, there’s no problems in the ground-nesting bee community.

The Hidden Nests

On the topic of these nests, it’s important to note that the bees only nest in completely dry soil. They won’t even try nesting in watery or mulch-covered soil (keep that in mind), as dry dirt is the easiest to work with. A bee nest has a small mound of dirt at the entrance, which is a hole that’s less than one inch wide. The excess dirt is what the bee cleared out of her newly-created nest. Female bees are responsible for creating and cleaning their nests.

These nests are often seen in sparse lawns since there’s less grass to get in the bee’s way. Larger bees, like bumblebees, can use abandoned rodent burrows as their secondhand nest. Ground-nesting bees don’t mind living close to other bees, so it’s not uncommon to see several nests in one area. If you see quite a few bees hovering near a certain area of the yard — and they’re not visiting the flowers — you may have an invasion on your hands.

3 Common Species

While some species are specific to certain regions, there are a few that seem to pop up in most areas. These bees are slow to sting since they’re not aggressive and don’t have a colony to protect. They still don’t like their offspring or home being threatened, but these bees aren’t as reactionary as other stinging insects.

The 3 most common ground-nesting bees we see are:

Bumblebees — The queens (reproducing females) are the only ones who overwinter. Otherwise, each bumblebee generation dies before the cold sets in at all. Unlike honeybees, they don’t make honey out of the nectar and pollen they gather through buzz pollination. This is when they “buzz” or vibrate close enough to a flower to dislodge its resources.

Miner Bees — These are some of the friendliest bees around, so there’s no cause for panic when miner bees make an appearance in your yard. They are fuzzy with pale yellow and black coloring. Although miner bees live in tight clusters with other miner bees, each bee only cares for her own nest and offspring. They reuse the same nest location every year.

Sweat Bees — Sweat bees are the odd bees out based on their appearance. They’re metallic or dark in color, so it’s easy to mistake them for flies. They can be pretty territorial, but they don’t immediately resort to stinging.Sweat bees got their name from their habit of licking our sweat (gross!) off our bodies. This is how they get some of their vital nutrients.

Yellow Jackets vs. Ground-Nesting Bees

All of this talk about bees that create underground nests leads our minds to wander to another striped stinging pest that prefers to stay under cover. Yellow jackets are also known for nesting in the ground and hovering above the grass, so what makes them so different from ground-nesting bees?

Well, quite a few things, actually. These are the facts to note about yellow jackets:

• They build nests in ground cavities, rodent burrows, attics, and wall voids.

• Their underground nests have an entrance hole that’s over an inch wide.

• There’s constant activity around their nest, with yellow jackets coming and going.

• They are some of the most aggressive stinging insects and won’t hesitate to attack enemies.

Conversely, these are the important facts on ground-nesting bees:

• They only build nests in dry soil, like in sparse lawns and gardens.

• Their nests have an entrance that’s less than an inch wide, about the width of a pencil.

• They’re slower and are not active busybodies around their nests.

• They’re not very defensive and will only sting when they are roughly-handled.

If you asked us, we’d much rather have a ground bee invasion than a yellow jacket infestation. One is a friendly, ground-dwelling pollinator, while the other is an angry invader that hates anyone who dares to challenge their colony.

Are They Even A Pest?

Bees that nest underground seem like a tough problem to solve since they spend their lives actively hiding from the outside world. However, it’s important to note that these insects aren’t the most worrisome ones that we’ll come across. Ground-nesting bees aren’t destructive, aggressive, or long-living.

Don’t get us wrong: you don’t want your lawn full of bee nests! Too many holes can ruin the lawn, and the bees won’t be too fond of the lawn mower. But a couple bee nests aren’t the end of the world and can even aerate the lawn in a helpful manner. Besides, all it takes is a heavy rainfall to wash the soil back into the holes and seal the openings.

Ground-nesting bees are reliable pollinators for all kinds of plants, including flowers and fruit trees. The only real danger ground-nesting bees pose to us is if you or anyone in your home is allergic to bee stings. These bees don’t like to sting us, but they will if their nest is thoroughly disturbed. Approach any bee nest with caution, and leave the removal to the pros.

Preventing & Treating The Problem

Ground-nesting bees aren’t the worst pest problem you could face, but it’s still a good idea to talk about prevention tips. These bees usually emerge in early spring once the weather is consistently warm. We don’t want to eliminate every bee on Earth — they’re important pollinators — so this is just about encouraging them to build their nests elsewhere.

Our top tips for preventing and treating ground-nesting bees are:

• Have a healthy lawn. Since these bees nest in sparse, patchy lawns, having a healthy lawn is the best way to prevent them from invading your grass. Use fertilizer and a consistent sprinkler schedule to maintain the lawn in the warmer months.

• Use mulch in the garden. Similar to the previous tip, bees won’t nest in soil that’s covered in mulch. If you don’t already, consider using mulch in your garden, flower beds, and other soil-heavy areas of the yard.

• Soak the entrances to any nests. A little water goes a long way with ground-nesting bees. When their nest entrances are gently soaked with water, the bees need to find another place to build their homes.

• Fill vacated holes with soil. If you know that there aren’t any more bees in an empty underground nest, prevent them from returning by filling the holes with new soil. It’s an extra help to soak the soil with water because the bees are searching for dry soil.

• Contact your local pest control professionals. Although most pest control services (including ours) don’t eliminate beneficial bees, having a pest professional assess the problem and offer their suggestions is the most trustworthy way to solve a ground-nesting bee problem.

Pointe’s Services Are All The Buzz

Bees are important pollinators that help our ecosystem, but that doesn’t mean we welcome every bug into our homes! At Pointe Pest Control, we’re committed to solving each pest problem one effective step at a time. We tackle each pest issue with a combination of inspections, customized plans, targeted treatments, and preventative measures. If you have a pest problem, Pointe has the solution.

Spring is just around the corner, so why not equip your home with the most reliable pest protection around? Our licensed technicians are dedicated to providing efficient solutions to Illinois and Indiana’s most troublesome pest issues. Contact us today for a free quote on our services — you’ll be glad you did!

Citations

Anderson, A. (2025, January 23). What to know about sweat bees. WebMD. Available at https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-to-know-about-sweat-bees (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Dillon, R. (2023, November 17). How to safely get rid of ground nesting bees. The Bee Hunter. Available at https://beehunterma.com/how-to-safely-get-rid-of-ground-nesting-bees/ (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Gallagher, K. (2022, July 28). 15 buzzworthy bumblebee facts. Treehugger. Available at https://www.treehugger.com/bumblebee-facts-5119379 (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Ground nesting bees: Are they a threat to you or your lawn?. (2016, May). New Garden. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://newgarden.com/notes/ground-nesting-bees

Miller, L. (n.d.). Welcoming ground-nesting bees to your garden. PlantersPlace.com. Available at https://plantersplace.com/wild-life-gardening-journal/welcoming-ground-nesting-bees-to-your-garden/ (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Rourke, K. (n.d.). Miner bee (Anthophora abrupta). U.S. Forest Service. Available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/anthophora-abrupta.shtml (Accessed on February 11, 2025).

Should I be concerned about ground nesting bees in my yard?. (2019, May 15). University of New Hampshire. Retrieved February 11, 2025, from https://extension.usu.edu/planthealth/schoolipm/structural-pest-id-guide/solitary-ground-bees