What Do Mining Bees Look Like?
Mining bees are solitary, ground-nesting bees native to Wisconsin. They are often mistaken for bumblebees; however, mining bees are typically smaller and darker in color. Adults are about 1/2 inch long and are yellow, black, and white in color. Mining bees will only live about a month once they emerge in the spring to mate, reproduce, and prepare for the upcoming year. They are friendly, non-aggressive bees that typically do not sting unless provoked. Despite their small stature, mining bees are very important to flower pollination, especially in the Midwest.
Have a Bee Problem?
Get rid of mining bees in your home or business with our professional bee control services!
Where Do Mining Bees Nest?
Mining bees nest in the ground, forming shallow 4-inch deep tunnels in well-drained soils, such as clay or sandy areas on banks, hills, gardens, baseball fields, and sandboxes. They have also been found burrowing between the stones of old buildings and logs in cabins or barns. The ground nests do not cause any damage to lawns; instead, they help aerate the ground.
Do Mining Bees Sting?
Mining bees are fairly harmless. Males do not have stingers, and female stingers are often too small to penetrate human skin. Mining bees are beneficial insects to our environment by pollinating plants and aerating the ground with their nests. We recommend simply leaving them alone for the short time they are active in the spring.
Beehive Removal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
If you discover a beehive on your property, do not try to remove it yourself. Mining bee nests should generally be left alone because they play an important role in pollination. However, if you need to remove a beehive for safety reasons, contact your local bee experts at Advanced Wildlife and Pest Control for help! Our certified pest specialists provide safe, effective stinging pest control and nest removal services in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.