What type of bees? - Ask Extension
Hello,
I've had bees that live in the ground near, or under my driveway.
It's difficult to capture a photo of them, as they never alight on anything...
Knowledgebase
What type of bees? #874636
Asked June 25, 2024, 1:06 PM EDT
Hello,
I've had bees that live in the ground near, or under my driveway.
It's difficult to capture a photo of them, as they never alight on anything.
They are constantly in motion; flying just a couple of inches above ground.
Is it possible to determine what bee I am sharing my property with, without a photo?
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
There are literally of hundreds of species of ground nesting bees and wasps, so it is difficult narrowing things down. How about we try some mug shots for you to look at?
The most common ground dwelling insect are Yellowjacket wasps. They are distinctive looking:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/61355-Vespula-pensylvanica
Next common are bumble bees:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57689-Bombus-vosnesenskii
Then we start to get into sweat bees:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127747-Halictus-rubicundus
There are many more. Let me know if any of these fit what you are seeing.
Best,
Andony
The most common ground dwelling insect are Yellowjacket wasps. They are distinctive looking:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/61355-Vespula-pensylvanica
Next common are bumble bees:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57689-Bombus-vosnesenskii
Then we start to get into sweat bees:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127747-Halictus-rubicundus
There are many more. Let me know if any of these fit what you are seeing.
Best,
Andony
Hello Andony.
The closest one is the Orange-legged Furrow Bee.
The bees I'm attempting to identify have striped abdomen like the Orange-legged one, but not quite to same.
I'll try again to convince one to sit still a moment so as to capture a photo.
Thanks,
Bob
- 'As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone, so to yield with life solves the insolvable: To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.' Lao-Tzu
Thanks, Bob,
There are many species of sweat bees, of which the Orange-legged Furrow Bee is but one. Take a look at this set of mug shots to narrow down:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10&subview=table&taxon_id=49707&view=species
There are many species of sweat bees, of which the Orange-legged Furrow Bee is but one. Take a look at this set of mug shots to narrow down:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=10&subview=table&taxon_id=49707&view=species
Hello again.
I crouched down and waited, and was able to snap a photo of one reentering the hive.
Enjoy your weekend.
Bob
- 'As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone, so to yield with life solves the insolvable: To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.' Lao-Tzu
Hi Bob,
It's hard to tell from an image, but my guess is a cellophane bee in the genus Colletes.
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127741-Colletes
Also, with most species of ground nesting bees there is no hive, but rather it is a single female building a nest on her own.
Best,
Andony
It's hard to tell from an image, but my guess is a cellophane bee in the genus Colletes.
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127741-Colletes
Also, with most species of ground nesting bees there is no hive, but rather it is a single female building a nest on her own.
Best,
Andony
Thank you.
It was difficult to get a clear image as I wasn't close.
There are hundreds flying around my driveway
- 'As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone, so to yield with life solves the insolvable: To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.' Lao-Tzu
Even if the picture was clear for many bees we need a specimen to do a positive identification. Have a great weekend.
You as well, thank you.
- 'As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone, so to yield with life solves the insolvable: To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.' Lao-Tzu
Ok, this shot isn't too bad. The bee on the right is somewhat clearer.
- 'As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone, so to yield with life solves the insolvable: To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.' Lao-Tzu
You as well, thank you.- 'As the soft yield of water cleaves obstinate stone, so to yield with life solves the insolvable: To yield, I have learned, is to come back again.' Lao-Tzu
