How to Get Rid of Large Sand Bees

Large sand bees can be an annoyance.

Sand bees belong to a group of bees and wasps called ground bees. These diggers are wasps, bumble bees, yellow jackets, cicada killers and digger wasps. Though the bees and cicada killers are mostly safe to coexist with and will not sting, the wasps can be aggressive. You may be looking to get rid of these pests due to an allergy to being stung, fear of being stung or general annoyance due to the presence of the critters.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket of ice
• Black plastic tarp
• Weights
• Insecticide

Instructions

1. Locate the source of the large sand bees. It is likely they will be living underground in either dirt or sand in a nest.

2. Pour the bucket of ice over the underground hive. Be sure to cover the hole sufficiently and don't let the ice spill out away from the hive.

3. Cover the ice pile with the black plastic tarp by spreading it out over the area covered by the ice. Use weights such as rocks, pieces of wood or jugs filled with water to hold the edges of the tarp down.

4. Leave the tarp over the hive for an entire sunny day so that the heat can cook the hive and kill the large sand bees.

5. Dust with an insecticide if the ice and tarp method did not work. Insecticides that will work are Apicide, Tempo or Delta Dust. Spread the dust over the hive entrance and any alternative hive entrances you find.

6. Call a professional exterminator if no other method works.

Tips & Warnings

• Only try to get rid of bees or wasps on a cool evening when they are not likely to attack.

References

• Gardens Alive: Bees Nesting in the Ground?
• Pest Control Info: Ground Bees and their Control
• General Exterminating.: Bees & Wasps
• Everything About: Digger Bees
• British Bee: What We Can Learn From Bees