Ground Nesting / Stinging Insects

Ground Nesting Bees & Wasps Training Course 20111Do you know What A ground bee looks like?

Is this a ground bee?3

Wildlife Information Center How about this?What exactly is a is a Ground Bee? The word Ground Bee has evolved over the years into a slang that is used to describe almost any stinging insectthat nests in the ground.

Some of these bees can be seen swarming in large numbers over ivy or thinning grass when the weather warms up in the early spring.What exactly is a is a Ground Bee? Others emerge from a single hole in the ground in late August or early September.What exactly is a is a Ground Bee?To the untrained eye, Ground Beesare allthe same. After all, a bee is a bee.What exactly is a is a Ground Bee? When it comes to ground nesters, though, theres more than meets the eye.

What exactly is a is a Ground Bee? In fact, its interesting to note that the ground-nesters we are accustomed toseeing herein Virginia comprise two totally different speciesthat exhibitdynamically different tendencies, behavior, and nesting habits.What exactly is a is a Ground Bee?

For todays purposes, we will be reviewing the habits, behavior, and correct identification of two ground nesters common to the Williamsburg area:

Solitary Ground Bee Yellow Jacket

ACAL Pest ServicesRescue!Both of these insects are ground nesters and are from the order hymenoptera.One of these, however, is a threat to the safety of our employees and guests, while the other is relatively harmless.

Who knows what the difference is between a bee and a wasp?

Bees generally forage for pollen and nectar to feed their young, while wasps are scavengers and predators

Bees are covered with hair, while wasps are generally hairless

Honey Bees are only capable of stinging once, while wasps and other bees can sting multiple times11Ground BeesSolitary Nesters

Ground Bees: Solitary NestersThere are over 20,000 species of bees in the world;

Over 70% of our native species are Solitary Nesters (1)Digger beesMining beesMason beesPlasterer beesSweat bees Carpenter bees13Solitary Andrenid BeesQuick Facts

Emerge March-April

Activity dies off within 1-2 months

Small size, 20 mm

Brown to black in color (2)

ACAL Pest ServicesClick Mouse14

Solitary Nesting Andrenid BeeCourtesy: Tony DiterlizziSolitary Andrenid BeesQuick FactsNest in a burrow in areas of sparse vegetation, old meadows, dry road beds, and sandy paths.

Note the similarity of the bee nests to anthills

North Carolina State UniversityLawns with bare spots and this grass are subject to invasion by these bees. (Ludwell Paradise)16Solitary Andrenid Bees

NoT Anthills!UGA Center for Urban AgricultureSolitary Andrenid Bees

In the historic area, Solitary Nesting Bees seem to Have a preference for nesting under English IvyPace LandscapingRoscow Cole, Greenhow Store and Shoemaker, Everything Williamsburg18Solitary Andrenid Bees

Shelby LandscapingThey Often nest in the loose soil close to the edges of the ivyBees will nest on the edges of the ivy as well as areas underneath of it. They swarm over top of it during the day, rarely landing on the leaves. 19Solitary Andrenid Bees

North Carolina State UniversitySolitary Andrenid BeesAlthough their nests are built in close proximity of one another, Ground bees are not social nesters.

Bermdagrasslawns.combumblebee.orgEggs overwinter in cavity and emerge in early spring21Solitary Andrenid Bees Friend or Foe?

Beneficial to the Environment

Collect pollen and nectar from early spring blooming flowers

more docile than social bees; they won't attack, and they rarely sting unless you step on them or handle them. (3)

Click Mouse Most professional pest managementoperators and entomologists agree that solitary ground bees pose no significant danger to the environment, and should be left alone if possible.

In fact, since solitaryground bees are active pollinators, they are consideredto be beneficial insects.

Male Solitary ground nesters make up the majority of the Bee activity we see above the surface

and they dont even have a stinger! (4)

25 If youre still a little hesitant about the ground bees buzzing around in the spring time, there are a few things you can do to discourage them from nesting on your property.

Water your Lawn and Garden Regularly

Ground Bees prefer to nest in dry soil.Rutgers landscapeApply Mulch to bare soil in flower bedsThis puts distance between burrowing ground bees and the underlying soil.

Colorado State EducationRepair bare spots in lawnThe thicker the grass, the less chance there is ground bees will invade.Colorado State Education

Around the same time the Solitary Ground Bee fades into retirement at the end of the spring season, another ground-nesting insect begins to emerge. These brightly colored Ground Beesare most often seen boiling out of old rodent burrows, holes between tree roots, and cavities in structural edifices. In reality, theselate-blooming insects are not bees at all.

Instead, they are members of the genus Vespula(the wasp family), and aremore commonly known in the United states asYellow Jackets

while similar in size to the solitary ground bee, yellow jackets are much different in behavior and nesting preferences than their peaceful counterparts.

yellow jackets are social insects that build intricate nests inside of preexisting cavities like rodent burrows.

Instead of feeding on balls of pollen, yellow jackets prey on other insects and nectar. They are scavengers of human wastes, and prefer foods and liquids high in protein or sugar to feed their young.

Yellow jackets are aggressive foragers, and are easily provoked by the presence of humans. this makes them a serious threat to the safety of those in their immediate vicinity.

Yellow Jacket Biology and Nesting Habits

Goodisman Research Group This diagram will demonstrate how a yellow jacket nest forms over the course of a season. Note how the populations of yellow jackets dont escalate until the mid-summer months.

NAPA County Mosquito Abatement DistrictQueen mates in late fall and overwinters in a sheltered location

Spring queen lays 30-50 eggs, then feeds the larvae for 18-20 days. These larvae rapidly become sterile female workers who then take over the care of other eggs the queen has laid. Larvae feed primarily on protein, which is found in scavenged meats and insect parts

Summer- The colony rapidly expands to up to 5,000 workers. As the colony expands, sugar is needed in large abundance to support the colonys food needs. This is when aggressive foraging at outdoor events most often occurs

Queens mate with male workers in the nest. Male workers die off shortly after. When cold weather sets in, sterile femaile workers die off, the parent queen dies, and the newly impregnated queens find shelter to survive the winter

40 The following images represent the different phases of yellow jacket nest development, starting with the larval stage and ending with the finished product that exists at the end of the summer.

Goodisman Research GroupSpring Yellow jacket Larvae mature over the course of 18-20 Days.Larval Stage42

Goodisman Research GroupAfter pupating, Adult Workers emerge from their cells. Worker emerging from cell43

Goodisman Research GroupThe Queen continues to lay eggs while workers assume the duties of feeding and caring for the larvae.Queen and worker feeding larvae44

Goodisman Research GroupThe Workers pass a paste of chewed up meat and food products to feed the larvae.Queen and worker feeding larvae45

Goodisman Research GroupThe Larva in turn secrete a sweet substance for the workers to feed on.Queen and worker feeding larvae46

Goodisman Research GroupThis process of mutual feeding between workers and larvae is called Trofallaxis.Queen and worker feeding larvae47

Goodisman Research GroupThe queen continues to lay eggs, and The colony expands rapidly over the summer months. Finished product48

Goodisman Research GroupPopulations escalate from several hundred workers to 5000 by the peak of the season. (5)Finished product49Yellow JacketsUnlike solitary nesting Ground bees, Yellow jackets nest in a variety of places.

Nests are typically found in tree stumps, holes in the ground, and in wall voids of building structures.

Click MouseGeneral pest Control Co.1 nest in attic void (Palace kitchen)2- nest in wall void or crawl space3-nest in bush4-old rodent burrow 50Yellow Jackets

Pest Control RX.com This is what A typical yellow jacket ground nest looks like

NAPA County Mosquito Abatement DistrictUnderground nest cross section52Yellow JacketsClassified as a wasp (feed young mostly meat instead of nectar)

Feed on sweets and proteins and commonly invade outdoor activities.

Bold and aggressive, and if provoked, can sting repeatedly and painfully

Click MouseYellow Jackets

Robert SmithNational Park Service.GovNest in Crawl spaceYellow Jackets

North Carolina State UniversityYellow Jackets

Robert Carr: Montgomery AdvertiserThis nest was found in a 1955 Chevrolet in Tallahassee, AL 1955 Chevrolet in Tallahassee, Alabama (Owner said the nest was the size of a spare tire when he first saw it, but when he came back a 1 month later, it had consumed the entire car 56Yellow Jackets

Robert Carr: Montgomery AdvertiserWhen he first found the nest, the owner claimed it was the size of a spare tire.1955 Chevrolet in Tallahassee, Alabama (Owner said the nest was the size of a spare tire when he first saw it, but when he came back a 1 month later, it had consumed the entire car 57Yellow Jackets

Robert Carr: Montgomery Advertiserthis is what the owner found when he came back over a month later to check the nest (6)Yellow Jacket Safety

Nathan FeirYellow Jacket SafetyStinging insects cause 500,000 trips to the emergency room in the United States each year (7)

Stinging insects cause 30-120 deaths per year in the United States (8)

Anaphylaxis ( A severe allergic reaction) can occur 20-30 minutes after a sting. (9)

Click MouseYellow Jacket SafetyDO:DONTKeep drinks covered

Remain calm when around yellow jackets

Carry an insect sting kit if you are allergic to bee or yellow jacket stingsSwat or crush yellow jackets

Wear bright colors or heavy perfume during yellow jacket season (dressing in white or khaki is best)

Panic when you see a nest walk slowly away

Click Mouse61Yellow Jacket Safety

Brenbot @ flicker.comMake sure you properly dispose of wastes when eating outdoors during yellow jacket season. this will help to minimize yellow jacket foraging in your area.Sanitation Matters!62 Though you may do all you can to avoid being stung, you still may find yourself nursing a wound or two by seasons end. Yellow Jacket Safety

If you do, ibuprofen or a comparable pain reliever will provide relief.

meat tenderizer or a baking soda/water paste is said to work well as a local at the site of the sting. (10)

Yellow Jacket Safety

If you have been stung andhave a history of allergic reactions to bee stings, get immediate medical attention

even if symptoms are not yet evident. Yellow Jacket Safety

Massive swelling at the site of the sting, shortness of breath, dizziness, and hives are all symptoms that indicate a need for prompt action. (11)Yellow Jacket Safety

Is it a Ground Bee or A Yellow Jacket?Are you seeing

Ground Level swarms from March-June ?

Lots of bees and lots of individual nests ?

Unaggressive foraging for nectar on flowers?

Its probably a Solitary Nesting Bee

Click Mouse

Are you seeing

Ground level Swarms from July October?

Lots of specimens coming from one hole or opening?

Aggressive scavenging (particularly near foods and waste receptacles)?

Its Probably a Yellow jacket

being aware of the differences in biology and behavior of insects indigenous to our region will help keep you out of trouble this year as stinging insect season approaches.

There are literally hundreds of species of wasps and bees you will see outdoors as the season unfolds.

You probably wont know the names and habits of all of these insects, but at least youll be familiar with two of the most common ground nesters that visit the historic area.

At the very least, youll know how to react to the Solitary Ground bees you see swarming over the ivy in late March.

And youll know what to do (and what not to do) when you see those angry black and yellow insects coming out of the hole between the tree roots in late august.

Maybe youll even run intoa friend or neighborat the hardware store who isat wits-endover how to get rid of the Ground Bees that have taken over theback yard.

When you hear their complaints, youll know the right question to ask before offering advice.

Are you seeing ground bees or yellow jackets?

Whats the difference? might be reply, a bee is a bee.

To the untrained eye, that might be true.

A year ago, you might have agreed with them.

But this year will be different.

This year, youll know exactlywhat to tell them.

End Training Program

References:

http://plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Enhancing_Nest_Sites_For_Native_Bee_Crop_Pollinators.pdf

http://bugguide.net/node/view/3424

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05525.html

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05525.html

https://www.getridofbees.com/yellow_jacket.html

http://legacy.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/060717/nest.shtml

http://www.acaai.org/allergist/allergies/Types/insect-sting-allergies/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.acaai.org/allergist/allergies/Types/insect-sting-allergies/Pages/default.aspx

http://repository.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/87549/pdf_260.pdf?sequence=1

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/yellow-jacket-sting.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/yellow-jacket-sting.html