6 Aggressive Bees That Live In The Ground

Have you ever noticed a bunch of bees flying close to the lawn or yard and started to worry? You might wonder if they are harmless or if they could sting your family or pets. That’s a common concern, especially when you don’t know what kind of bees they are.

Some ground bees are calm and harmless. They simply help pollinate flowers and keep nature healthy. But a few types of aggressive bees that live in the ground can become a real problem if disturbed.

Knowing which ones are aggressive helps you stay safe and avoid harming the helpful ones. In this post, I’ll share the six most aggressive bees that live in the ground and how you can identify them quickly.

By the end of reading this article, you’ll know which ground bees to leave alone and which ones you should keep away from your home.

 

 

 

Which Type Of Bees Lives In The Ground?

Mostly solitary bees, such as mason bees, carpenter bees, sweat bees, and more live in the ground. They live in the ground because of less competition for a nest site and plenty of availability of food sources.

 

 

Such kind of bees that lives in the ground include:

1. Mason bee.
2. Yellow-faced bee.
3. Sweat bee.
4. Bumble bee.
5. Carpenter bees.
6. Mining bee, etc.

There are plenty of other bees that can nest in the ground. Some of these ground bees are contributing to pollination. But most of these ground-nesting bees don’t solely depend on flowers.

They also eat tree sap, fruit juice, and other small insects living in the ground. Because of the variety of food options available close to the ground, they used to live in the ground.

 

 

 

Are Ground Bees Aggressive To Humans?

In most cases, ground bees are absolutely not aggressive to humans. Some of the female ground bees can sting if they feel threatened by anything. But male ground bees can’t sting.

 

Bees are defensive in nature. But ground bees are not as defensive as honey bees are. Most of the ground bees are solitary in nature. So, they are not too careful about protecting their colony.

But yes, there are some ground-nesting bees too, that are careful about protecting their family. If anything tries to harm them, they won’t leave them without any attack. These types of ground bees will be aggressive to humans if they feels any threat from humans.

Otherwise, ground bees are not usually aggressive in nature. Most of the female ground bees can’t sting, but they instill fear in humans. To protect their family, sometimes they start chasing humans. But they are totally unable to sting.

Female ground bees can sting, but they are usually totally harmless. Sometimes people misjudge yellow jackets and other types of wasps as bees. These ground-nesting creatures that people often consider bees are very aggressive.

Sometimes they can sting people without any interruption. There are some other ground bee species too that can be harmful to you.

 

 

 

6 Of The Most Aggressive Bees That Live In The Ground

Yellow jackets, mining bees, and some ground-nesting bumble bees show aggressive behavior when they feel threatened. Yellow jackets and other wasps that are treated as bees are comparatively more aggressive. These creatures can even sting people when passing by near their nest without interruption.

As I already told you, ground-nesting bees are not too aggressive. There are 6 types of ground-nesting bees and wasps that are comparatively more aggressive. You have to be careful about them.

 

 

1) Africanized Honey Bees

Africanized honey bees are the most dangerous ever ground-nesting bees. Though they are honey bees, they can build their nest in the ground cavity or even in a flowering pot. These honey bees are very aggressive.

 

 

Africanized honey bees, often called killer bees, are a hybrid species known for their extreme defensiveness. Even small disturbances near their nest can trigger a massive swarm attack. This is why they got the name of mad bees.

They can sting only once. But their venom is so poisonous that getting stung by a swarm of these bees can lead humans to death.

Africanized honey bees are mostly found in central South Africa. They also live in warm parts of the Americas. They spread from Brazil in the 1950s.

• South America: Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina
• Central America: Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and nearby countries
• Mexico
• United States: Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Florida, and nearby areas

They prefer tropical and subtropical climates. They may expand north if the weather allows.  Their colony can spread up to 200 km per year.

Whenever you see these bees in your region. You should call for a pest control expert or a bee removal team. Don’t approach by yourself as they are very aggressive.

 

 

2) Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets can live in the ground, and they are very aggressive in nature. People often misjudge yellow jackets with bees.

If you see any bees living in your yard with yellow and black bodies and showing aggressiveness. They might not be bees. These culprits are yellow jackets.

 

People are always confused about spotting the differences between yellow jackets and ground bees. The main difference is no ground bees are much more aggressive, unlike it is yellow jacket wasps.

Yellow jackets are very aggressive to humans. They are pretty defensive about their family. If they smell any danger, they attack the target without any hesitation.

This is why, when you see ground-nesting yellow jackets, stay away from them! Never try to interrupt them. If required, call pest control specialists. They will help you to get rid of yellow jackets.

 

 

3) Bald-Faced Hornets

These hornets also live in the cavity of soil. They are very aggressive about defending their nest. They are also actually not bees, but people often consider them as bees.

 

Their sting is very poisonous. It is found that for some people venom of the bald-faced hornet causes life-threatening allergic infections. But the real fact is, they are not very aggressive.

But if you even accidentally make an interruption with them, just run away. 

If you see this dangerous creature in your yards, try to stay away from them. If you or your family member has any allergic reaction to their stings, it could be a dangerous thing.

 

 

4) Bumble Bees

Some of the bumble bees are solitary in nature. So, they create their nest in the ground cavity. These types of bumble bees are usually not aggressive to humans. But they are also very careful about their protection.

 

If you try to smash them, they will sting you. Also, if you try to break their nest or create any disturbance to them, they won’t hesitate to attack you.

One of the important things is that bumble bees are capable of stinging multiple times. So, if you disturb them, they can sting you more than once. So, try to avoid interruption with these ground bees.

 

 

5) Sweat Bees

Sweat bees are not very aggressive in general, but possess a defensive nature about their nest. So, if you are nice to them, they will be nice to you. If you try to smash their nest, they won’t leave you harmlessly.

 

Usually, these bees are gentle and nice in nature. They like fruit juice and sugary foods. They are not very aggressive to humans.

Their female members contain sting. Sweat bees won’t use their sting unless you try to smash them.

 

 

6) Yellow-Faced Bees

These bees also known as masked bees, look like yellow jackets. They built their nest in soil cavities and holes created by other animals in the ground.

 

 

Usually, they are docile to humans. But they are very aggressive to other predators and insects. They also prey on small insects. But they are not defensive to humans.

Also, their female members can sting multiple times. For this reason, their sting doesn’t have very harmful venom. Yellow-faced bee’s venom is comparatively less poisonous.

 

 

 

What Is The Most Aggressive Ground Bee?

Among all of the aggressive ground-nesting bees and wasps, Africanized honey bees are the most aggressive one. Their sting can cause deadly allergic reactions.

If anybody gets attacked by an Africanized honey bee swarm, they can die if immediate medical treatment isn’t ensured.

So, you should be careful if your region has this bee species. If you see any of this type of bee, try to avoid interruption with them. 

 

 

 

How to Treat Aggressive Ground Bees?

As ground-nesting bees are usually harmless. Moreover, they are very helpful for our ecosystem. There are a lot of flowering and fruit plants that solely depend upon pollination by ground bees.

So, it is our responsibility to ensure proper safety for them. Moreover, ground bees do not live in the same place for more than 8 weeks.

You can try to prevent ground bees from being in unwanted locations. It is better to give them a nest site so that they stay away from your household.

So, if you see ground bees suddenly in your region, don’t panic.

Try to avoid interactions with them for the next few weeks. They will leave your place. If you have seen Africanized honey bees in your region, then it could be a matter of worry for you.

Here is what you can do whenever you see Africanized honey bees in your region.

1. First of all, prevent yourself and all of your family members and pets from interacting with them.
2. You can try natural deterrents like starting fluid, bleach water, and even gasoline to get rid of ground bees. Make sure to try this at night and while covering your whole body.
3. If possible, create a fence around the bee nest. And place a poster, if possible, to alert people to avoid the place.
4. If you can’t do it yourself, call for a bee removal expert. They will help you get rid of these dangerous ground bees.

Hopefully, you got clear concepts about these 6 most aggressive bees that live in the ground. Remember, bees are the friends of nature. They are not our enemy. So, it is our responsibility to protect them.

Ground bees are less aggressive than honey bees. So, if the bees are not Africanized honey bees, then you shouldn’t be worried about them. Just leave them alone.

They won’t cause any trouble for you. Also, they won’t stay in your yards long. They are leaving your yard at the end of the spring.

Still, if you feel any threat from them, try natural ways to get rid of ground bees without killing them.

You can check my article on are bee swarms dangerous to know what to do when you encounter a bee swarm.