Ground Nesting Bees Wasps Training Course 2011 DO

Ground Nesting Bees & Wasps Training Course 2011

DO YOU KNOW WHAT A ground bee LOOKS LIKE?

IS THIS A GROUND BEE?

Wildlife Information Center HOW ABOUT THIS?

The word “Ground Bee” has evolved over the years into a slang that is used to describe almost any stinging insect that 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.

Others emerge from a single hole in the ground in late August or early September.

To the untrained eye, Ground Bees are all the same. After all, a bee is a bee.

When it comes to ground nesters, though, there’s more than meets the eye.

In fact, it’s interesting to note that the ground-nesters we are accustomed to seeing here in Virginia comprise two totally different species that exhibit dynamically different tendencies, behavior, and nesting habits.

FOR TODAY’S PURPOSES, WE WILL BE REVIEWING THE HABITS, BEHAVIOR, AND CORRECT IDENTIFICATION OF TWO GROUND NESTERS COMMON TO THE WILLIAMSBURG AREA: ACAL Pest Services Rescue!

Ground Bees SOLITARY NESTERS

GROUND BEES: SOLITARY NESTERS 70% �DIGGER BEES �MINING BEES �MASON BEES �PLASTERER BEES �SWEAT BEES �CARPENTER BEES

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES QUICK FACTS CLICK MOUSE � ACAL Pest Services � � �

Solitary Nesting Andrenid Bee Courtesy: Tony Diterlizzi

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES QUICK FACTS �NEST 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 University

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES NOT ANTHILLS! UGA Center for Urban Agriculture

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES IN THE HISTORIC AREA, SOLITARY NESTING BEES SEEM TO HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR NESTING UNDER ENGLISH IVY Pace Landscaping

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES THEY OFTEN NEST IN THE LOOSE SOIL CLOSE TO THE EDGES OF THE IVY Shelby Landscaping

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES North Carolina State University

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES ALTHOUGH THEIR NESTS ARE BUILT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF ONE ANOTHER, GROUND BEES ARE NOT SOCIAL NESTERS. Bermdagrasslawns. com bumblebee. org

SOLITARY ANDRENID BEES CLICK MOUSE �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

MOST PROFESSIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT OPERATORS AND ENTOMOLOGISTS AGREE THAT SOLITARY GROUND BEES POSE NO SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SHOULD BE LEFT ALONE IF POSSIBLE.

IN FACT, SINCE SOLITARY GROUND BEES ARE ACTIVE POLLINATORS, THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE BENEFICIAL INSECTS.

MALE SOLITARY GROUND NESTERS MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF THE BEE ACTIVITY WE SEE ABOVE THE SURFACE… … AND THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE A STINGER! (4)

IF YOU’RE STILL A LITTLE HESITANT ABOUT THE GROUND BEES BUZZING AROUND IN THE SPRING TIME, THERE 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 landscape

APPLY MULCH TO BARE SOIL IN FLOWER BEDS… THIS PUTS DISTANCE BETWEEN BURROWING GROUND BEES AND THE UNDERLYING SOIL. Colorado State Education

REPAIR BARE SPOTS IN LAWN… Colorado State Education THE THICKER THE GRASS, THE LESS CHANCE THERE IS GROUND BEES WILL INVADE.

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 BEES” ARE MOST OFTEN SEEN BOILING OUT OF OLD RODENT BURROWS, HOLES BETWEEN TREE ROOTS, AND CAVITIES IN STRUCTURAL EDIFICES.

IN REALITY, THESE LATE-BLOOMING INSECTS ARE NOT BEES AT ALL. INSTEAD, THEY ARE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS VESPULA (THE WASP FAMILY), AND ARE MORE COMMONLY KNOWN IN THE UNITED STATES AS…

Yellow 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 DON’T ESCALATE UNTIL THE MID-SUMMER MONTHS.

NAPA County Mosquito Abatement District

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.

SPRING YELLOW JACKET LARVAE MATURE OVER THE COURSE OF 18 -20 DAYS. Goodisman Research Group

AFTER PUPATING, ADULT WORKERS EMERGE FROM THEIR CELLS. Goodisman Research Group

THE QUEEN CONTINUES TO LAY EGGS WHILE WORKERS ASSUME THE DUTIES OF FEEDING AND CARING FOR THE LARVAE. Goodisman Research Group

THE WORKERS PASS A PASTE OF CHEWED UP MEAT AND FOOD PRODUCTS TO FEED THE LARVAE. Goodisman Research Group

THE LARVA IN TURN SECRETE A SWEET SUBSTANCE FOR THE WORKERS TO FEED ON. Goodisman Research Group

THIS PROCESS OF MUTUAL FEEDING BETWEEN WORKERS AND LARVAE IS CALLED TROFALLAXIS. Goodisman Research Group

THE QUEEN CONTINUES TO LAY EGGS, AND THE COLONY EXPANDS RAPIDLY OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS. Goodisman Research Group

POPULATIONS ESCALATE FROM SEVERAL HUNDRED WORKERS TO 5000 BY THE PEAK OF THE SEASON. (5) Goodisman Research Group

YELLOW JACKETS CLICK MOUSE General pest Control Co.

YELLOW JACKETS THIS IS WHAT A TYPICAL YELLOW JACKET GROUND NEST LOOKS LIKE Pest Control RX. com

NAPA County Mosquito Abatement District

YELLOW JACKETS CLICK MOUSE � � �

YELLOW JACKETS NEST IN CRAWL SPACE National Park Service. Gov Robert Smith

YELLOW JACKETS North Carolina State University

YELLOW JACKETS THIS NEST WAS FOUND IN A 1955 CHEVROLET IN TALLAHASSEE, AL Robert Carr: Montgomery Advertiser

YELLOW JACKETS WHEN HE FIRST FOUND THE NEST, THE OWNER CLAIMED IT WAS THE SIZE OF A SPARE TIRE. Robert Carr: Montgomery Advertiser

YELLOW JACKETS THIS IS WHAT THE OWNER FOUND WHEN HE CAME BACK OVER A MONTH LATER TO CHECK THE NEST (6) Robert Carr: Montgomery Advertiser

YELLOW JACKET SAFETY Nathan Feir

YELLOW JACKET SAFETY CLICK MOUSE � 500, 000 � 30 -120 � 20 -30

YELLOW JACKET SAFETY CLICK MOUSE � KEEP DRINKS COVERED � REMAIN CALM WHEN AROUND YELLOW JACKETS � CARRY AN INSECT STING KIT IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO BEE OR YELLOW JACKET STINGS � SWAT 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

YELLOW JACKET SAFETY MAKE SURE YOU PROPERLY DISPOSE OF WASTES WHEN EATING OUTDOORS DURING YELLOW JACKET SEASON. THIS WILL HELP TO MINIMIZE YELLOW JACKET FORAGING IN YOUR AREA. Brenbot @ flicker. com

YELLOW JACKET SAFETY THOUGH YOU MAY DO ALL YOU CAN TO AVOID BEING STUNG, YOU STILL MAY FIND YOURSELF NURSING A WOUND OR TWO BY SEASON’S 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 AND HAVE 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)

IS IT A GROUND BEE OR A YELLOW JACKET? CLICK MOUSE GROUND LEVEL SWARMS FROM MARCH-JUNE ? GROUND LEVEL SWARMS FROM JULY – OCTOBER? LOTS OF BEES AND LOTS OF INDIVIDUAL NESTS ? LOTS OF SPECIMENS COMING FROM ONE HOLE OR OPENING? UNAGGRESSIVE FORAGING FOR NECTAR ON FLOWERS? AGGRESSIVE SCAVENGING (PARTICULARLY NEAR FOODS AND WASTE RECEPTACLES)? IT’S 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 WON’T KNOW THE NAMES AND HABITS OF ALL OF THESE INSECTS, BUT AT LEAST YOU’LL BE FAMILIAR WITH TWO OF THE MOST COMMON GROUND NESTERS THAT VISIT THE HISTORIC AREA.

AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU’LL KNOW HOW TO REACT TO THE SOLITARY GROUND BEES YOU SEE SWARMING OVER THE IVY IN LATE MARCH.

AND YOU’LL 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 YOU’LL EVEN RUN INTO A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR AT THE HARDWARE STORE WHO IS AT WIT’S-END OVER HOW TO GET RID OF THE “GROUND BEES” THAT HAVE TAKEN OVER THE BACK YARD.

WHEN YOU HEAR THEIR COMPLAINTS, YOU’LL KNOW THE RIGHT QUESTION TO ASK BEFORE OFFERING ADVICE.

“ARE YOU SEEING GROUND BEES OR YELLOW JACKETS? ”

“WHAT’S 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, YOU’LL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO TELL THEM.

END TRAINING PROGRAM

References: 1. http: //plants. usda. gov/pollinators/Enhancing_Nest_Sites_For_Native_Bee_Crop_Pollinators. pdf 2. http: //bugguide. net/node/view/3424 3. http: //www. ext. colostate. edu/pubs/insect/05525. html 4. http: //www. ext. colostate. edu/pubs/insect/05525. html 5. https: //www. getridofbees. com/yellow_jacket. html 6. http: //legacy. decaturdaily. com/decaturdaily/news/060717/nest. shtml 7. http: //www. acaai. org/allergist/allergies/Types/insect-sting-allergies/Pages/default. aspx 8. http: //www. acaai. org/allergist/allergies/Types/insect-sting-allergies/Pages/default. aspx 9. http: //repository. tamu. edu/bitstream/handle/1969. 1/87549/pdf_260. pdf? sequence=1 10. http: //www. buzzle. com/articles/yellow-jacket-sting. html 11. http: //www. buzzle. com/articles/yellow-jacket-sting. html