Digger Bee
Physical Features
Digger bees, another example of native bees, are hairy bees about ½ inch to 2/3 inch long.
Life Cycle
Complete Metamorphosis
Males will search for females flying over nest sites and resting on plants nearby. Once they have mated. The adult female will lay an egg in a burrow and collect pollen back for the larva to feed on once hatched. The larva will overwinter feeding and maturing. Pupation occurs early spring with emergence beginning of the summer season. These solitary bees will live independently, not depending on a colony for their survival. Adults live about 1 month. One generation occurs per year.
Habits
- Diet: Adults feed on flower nectar.
- Activity: Typically seen in summer.
- Preferred Climate: Warm
- Defense: Sting. Females only sting.
- Cautions: Will sting if provoked.
- Home Invasion: Female digger bees will infest yards if barren creating small mounds with an opening at the top. In some cases large clusters will be created of these mounds as this solitary bee will often be living in large clusters (aggregations) when prime conditions exist. This can be intimidating to the homeowner.
Helpful Hints for Control
- Properly fertilize and water lawns promoting healthy turf.
- Targeted insecticide treatment may be necessary if larger populations, aggregations occur to prevent possibility of begin stung.
Interesting Fact
Digger bees line their underground tunnels with a thin waxy substance.
Symptoms
Bee stings can produce different reactions, ranging from temporary pain and discomfort to a severe allergic reaction. Having one type of reaction doesn’t mean you’ll always have the same reaction every time you’re stung. Bee stings are minor and usually include an instant, sharp pain at the sting site. A small, white spot where the stinger punctured the skin will appear with slight swelling around the area. In most cases, the pain will disappear within a few hours. Sometimes anaphylaxis can occur, which is a severe allergic reaction. This includes hives, pale skin, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat and tongue, a weak and rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
