Ground bees and honey bees are distinct types of bees, both playing important roles as pollinators in ecosystems. While they share the general classification of “bee,” their behaviors, nesting habits, and social structures differ significantly. Understanding these differences can help in appreciating their contributions and coexisting with them.
What Are Ground Bees?
Ground bees, also known as solitary or miner bees, are a diverse group, with approximately 70% of all bee species nesting underground. These bees range in size from about one-half to three-quarters of an inch and can display various colors, including black, brown, gray, metallic green, blue, or copper, sometimes with striped patterns. They often have hairy bodies, which helps them collect pollen.
Each female ground bee excavates her own individual burrow in the soil, often in areas with exposed dirt, thin grass, or good drainage. These nests appear as small, quarter-inch holes, sometimes surrounded by tiny mounds of soil resembling anthills. While individual, many ground bee nests can be found in close proximity, creating large aggregations.
Ground bees are non-aggressive and rarely sting unless directly provoked or stepped on. Male ground bees lack stingers entirely and pose no threat. They are active for only a few weeks in the spring, during which females collect nectar and pollen to provision their nests before laying eggs. The larvae develop underground and emerge the following year.
What Are Honey Bees?
Honey bees are social insects that live in large, organized colonies, ranging from 10,000 to 80,000 individuals within a single hive. The most recognized species, the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), is about half an inch long and has an oval body with golden-yellow and brown or black bands. Their bodies are covered in fine, branched hairs, giving them a fuzzy appearance.
Honey bee colonies consist of a single queen, male drones, and thousands of female worker bees, each with specific roles. They construct intricate nests of hexagonal wax cells, called honeycomb, to store honey, pollen, and raise their young. These nests are built in protected, hollow spaces such as tree cavities, rock crevices, or man-made beehives.
Honey bees are known for their ability to produce honey and are widely used in commercial agriculture for pollinating various crops. Worker honey bees possess a barbed stinger that detaches after stinging, resulting in the bee’s death. They sting to defend their hive if threatened.
Distinguishing Between Them and Coexisting
Distinguishing between ground bees and honey bees involves observing their nesting habits, social behavior, and physical characteristics. Ground bees are solitary, nesting in individual burrows in the soil, often in bare patches. Their nests appear as small individual holes. Honey bees are social, living in large colonies within enclosed structures like tree hollows or managed hives, where they build complex wax combs.
Regarding stinging, ground bees are docile and rarely sting unless directly threatened; males cannot sting. Honey bees sting to defend their colony, leaving their barbed stinger behind.
Coexisting with ground bees is straightforward due to their non-aggressive nature and the temporary duration of their activity. They are beneficial pollinators and help aerate the soil.
If their presence is undesirable in a specific area, simple methods can encourage them to relocate without harm. Ground bees prefer dry, exposed soil for nesting, so keeping the area well-watered or covering bare patches with mulch or dense grass can deter them. Some strong scents, like cinnamon, garlic, or peppermint, can also act as natural repellents when sprinkled or sprayed around nesting areas.
If a honey bee nest is encountered, especially a swarm, it is advisable to contact a professional beekeeper for safe removal, as they are a social species and can be more defensive when their colony is disturbed.