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Types of Ground Nesting Bees

Making It Grow Minute
SC Public Radio

Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. The small ground nesting bees fall into several categories – mining bees, orchard bees, or digger bees are among them,  and all are important pollinators. They are absolutely no threat to humans or pets – even though several hundred may construct their burrows in the same area, that’s because the ground conditions are perfect.

Actually, you could consider them a blessing as they do aerate the soil when they dig out the underground chamber where they lay their eggs. Also, you should be thrilled to have them on your property as they are native pollinators and equally important to the natural world and agriculture alike as European Honey Bees, but are not interested in defending their turf by stinging. If for some reason you aren’t tickled pink to have them in your yard, irrigate that area frequently in late spring to deter them from nesting. 

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Amanda McNulty is a Clemson University Extension Horticulture agent and the host of South Carolina ETV’s Making It Grow! gardening program. She studied horticulture at Clemson University as a non-traditional student. “I’m so fortunate that my early attempts at getting a degree got side tracked as I’m a lot better at getting dirty in the garden than practicing diplomacy!” McNulty also studied at South Carolina State University and earned a graduate degree in teaching there.