Ground Bees
Max Posner Dig this: according to the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 70% of the 20,000 known species of bees nest underground. As spring blossoms, you might share the outdoors with a little-known group of such bees, which emerge to collect nectar and pollen for their young. For a few weeks, these ‘ground bees’ will appear as a swarm hovering just above the ground. They may appear intimidating, but males don’t have stingers, and females (who do) hardly ever sting! For the short period they are around, these benevolent bees will be buffering ecosystems, pollinating fruiting shrubs and trees, and crops in the garden.
Why this story, now? Many people are only aware of the feared stinging insects: bumblebees and yellow jackets, (yellow jackets aren’t bees, they belong to specific genera of wasp). To many, ground bees are seen as more of a pest and are erad-icated unnecessarily, decreasing populations of these pollinators. This story sheds light on a lesser-known insect just about to make its spring debut.
Potential Sources: Guillermo Fernandez, Founder and Chief Melittologist of the Bee Conservancy (nonprofit). Aaron Red-mond, University of Kentucky Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources who works in the community to educate and increase awareness of apiculture and pollinators.
A miner bee emerges from the nest it burrowed in a yard in Richmond, VA, March, 2023.
Burrows produced by miner bees in a yard in Richmond, VA, March, 2023.
A miner bee emerges from the nest it burrowed in a yard in Richmond, VA, March, 2023.