Insects

What to Know About New Jersey Ground Bees


The term “ground bees” may sound like something of an oxymoron, but the truth is that nearly three-quarters of native bee species live underground instead of in hives. Technicians from your local pest control company share some important and little-known facts about ground bees.

What Are Ground Bees?

As the name implies, the primary difference between ground bees and other species of bees is that the former dig into the ground to create nests where they raise their young. As a result, ground bees are also referred to as mining bees, miner bees, or digging bees.

Another difference is that hive bees are social and live in large colonies, while ground bees are solitary, with each female having their own burrow. Since there is little at stake with a threat to their nests, ground bees rarely tend to be aggressive.

Reproduction and Life Cycle of Ground Bees

  • After a female mates during early spring, she digs a nest with a main tunnel surrounded by short side tunnels.
  • The female then secretes a substance from a gland on her abdomen that she applies to the tunnel walls to make them waterproof.
  • When the nest is complete, the female gathers pollen and nectar to form into small balls. After she places one ball in each side tunnel, the female deposits an egg on top and seals the tunnel to form individual “rooms.”
  • Incredibly, although it can take close to a year for an egg to reach maturity, adult ground bees live for only a few weeks, at which point the cycle begins anew.

Top Local Pest Control Company in NJ

Have you found ground bees or other insects around your home and you’re not sure what to do? Contact Allison Pest Control to schedule a free pest inspection.

 

 

 

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