How to Get Rid of Ground Boring Bumble Bees
Bumble bees are generally beneficial to gardens and more than happy to avoid human contact. Whenever possible, it is best to avoid bumble bee nests and allow the bees to live out their lives. Unfortunately, there are times when bees and humans clash and bees must be removed in order to protect children or individuals who are allergic. A general outdoor insecticide spray applied periodically will generally control all unwanted insects, including bees. If you see the round holes that indicate a burrowing bee, however, it may become necessary to eliminate the nest. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Liquid pesticide
- Hand-held duster
- Powdered insecticide
- Flashlight (optional)
Instructions
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Avoid bee nests whenever possible by removing yard waste, loose boards, tarps, flat rocks, bricks and other unnecessary items that may serve to shelter a nest. Items such as this that are part of your landscaping should be set into the ground so that bees can not get under them to nest.
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Spray a liquid pesticide over the area near the nest if it is covered with mulch, grass, brush or is otherwise difficult to get to. You may need to treat the area in this manner only if the area is overgrown enough that finding individual nests would be impossible. This step can be skipped when the entrance to the nest is easily located and accessed.
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Locate the entrance to the nest. You can do this by simply observing the bees, but be careful not to corner or disturb them. If you have trouble locating the nest, consider calling in a professional rather than risk getting stung.
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Wait until evening to treat bee nests. During the day most of the bees will be out of the nest and the treatment will not be effective. Nests should be treated at dusk or after dark.
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Fill a hand-held duster with a waterproof powdered insecticide, such as Delta Dust. Carefully mist both the nest and the area around the nest with the dust. Repeat this process twice to make sure that the powder gets into the nest and does not simply stick to the sides.
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Tips & Warnings
Bees that burrow into the ground are often bumble bees. Those boring into wood, however, are carpenter bees and require a different control approach.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
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Comments
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I want to say to a certain person that I did some research on getting rid of bees. luckily the kind of bee you obviously had, the decision you made was definately the correct call. I've yes had other experiences that caused attack from the bees. That was my biggest concern. I commend you on your actions and am glad that the bees were not the attacking kind or the kind that spread throughout the ground... yes you were a hero in that situation and I wholely commended you. my only cause was your safety of not being stung or attacked. I love this family ( yes all of it) because it's prettty much all I got up here. I just want to say Great job.
