Along with the usual cultivated honey bees, gardeners and gardeners, as well as walkers, can get acquainted with their unusual relatives. These are earthen wild bees that build their homes in burrows dug in the ground. Like domestic animals, they pollinate plants and collect nectar, and accumulate honey in nests hidden in the ground. There they have whole labyrinths of tunnels and chambers of different sizes.
Appearance
Ground bees have a characteristic appearance that allows them to be clearly recognized as relatives of honey bees.They have a shiny black abdomen with transverse stripes, a dark brown head and deep purple wings. Externally, males and females do not differ, but males are smaller in size. They are no more than 15 millimeters in length, while females reach 19 millimeters.
The finest light hairs are scattered across the abdomen of earth bees, while the body is abundantly strewn with them. Because of this, insects appear shaggy. The head of bees is covered with black hairs.
Environment and habitat features
Ground bees live throughout the world, with the exception of South America, Madagascar, Australia and Oceania. They prefer to build their nest underground, choosing sandy, loose soil and areas around fields and on the edges of forests. They settle far from human habitats, so they are classified as wild insects. In inhabited areas, settlements of earth bees can be easily destroyed, so insects try to choose places away from human habitation.
What harm do they cause?
Ground bees sometimes settle in areas where people rarely visit or do not carry out active agricultural work. They live in small colonies, quite secretively, which is facilitated by camouflage coloring.They do not attack people on their own, only if people accidentally disturb the nest or try to destroy it in order to obtain honey supplies. In such a situation, the bees will attack and can cause serious harm to your health. Bites are especially dangerous for allergy sufferers, the elderly and young children.
Tunnels and chambers located underground can harm green spaces. Plant roots fall into cavities, do not receive water and nutrients, dry out, which leads to the death of the plantings. This can significantly damage decorative flower beds, garden beds or lawns. Small shrubs and young, immature trees may also be affected.
Bees can settle near the foundations of buildings or in structures made of loose materials, which can cause damage and destruction. In this case, the insects will have to be driven away by destroying their settlements.
How to get rid of ground bees
If insects cause problems, interfere with normal life on the site, or damage green spaces and buildings, you will have to get rid of them. First you need to find a nesting site, which may be in the most unexpected places. You can track the tunnels by the flight of bees. After this, you need to choose the destruction option that will be as simple and effective as possible.
Water
If there is one or a couple of settlements of earth bees on the site, you can use the simplest and most accessible method to combat them - boiling water. In order to completely fill the underground passages, a lot of water will be required. You cannot save money, because even a couple of surviving bees can restore the colony and rebuild the settlement.
Traps
The simplest and most affordable way to remove bees from a site is to install traps.They are made from plastic and glass bottles filled with sweet syrup. Insects flock to the sweet aroma and fall into a trap from which they cannot escape. This method can be used where pesticides, water or other control methods cannot be used.
Digging
The destruction of underground structures can bring a temporary effect and only if the passages are located close enough to the surface of the earth. It may not be possible to dig deep tunnels by hand, and if the job is left half done, the bees can quickly restore the destroyed structure.
When doing such work, it is imperative to wear a protective suit and mask, because angry insects will certainly protect your home. You also first need to remove strangers, children and pets from the area, who may also suffer from bites.
Chemicals
The inhabitants of underground structures can be completely destroyed using pesticides. Such products as “Dichlorvos” and “Delta Zone” have proven themselves to be excellent. Before the operation begins, smoke is released into the underground passages to neutralize aggressive insects.
Special services
If it is impossible to cope on your own, or if there are too many bees on the site or they behave aggressively, it is recommended to involve special services. They have the necessary equipment, drugs and experience to carry out such operations.
Danger to humans
Ground bees sting in the same way as their honeybees. They usually attack if they are disturbed, especially if someone tries to dig into their homes for honey.If insects attack in a swarm, they can cause serious damage, especially if they bite the face, eyes, or lips. Also, bites can be dangerous for children and people with poor health, with a tendency to allergic reactions.
Bee venom contains histamine, which, if it enters the human body, can cause a number of negative reactions: swelling, muscle spasms and severe pain. This substance can cause anaphylactic shock. If it is impossible to get help or if support is not provided quickly enough, the body may suffer.
If the bitten area is very itchy, apply a compress with sugar or cold to it. If your health worsens, it is recommended to immediately seek medical help. There have been no deaths recorded after earth bee stings, but the situation cannot be brought to a dangerous point.
You can minimize risks by the following methods:
- Do not plant plants with a strong sweet smell that produce a lot of nectar and pollen on loose sandy soils. Such flowers and shrubs attract bees, which collect nectar from them to produce honey.
- Also, you should not grow sunflower, celery and parsley on the plot. These plants also attract insects with their scents, and sunflowers also produce large amounts of pollen.
- Blooming lavender repels ground bees and other flying insects, so it should be grown around gazebos, playgrounds and open terraces of cottages and country houses.
Do not forget that earth bees are pollinators, without which it is impossible to obtain many vegetables, fruits and berries. So there is no point in destroying them unless absolutely necessary.
