Nature Journal - Mysterious Ground-nesting bees!

Spring has come, and with it, the emergence of ground-nesting bees on our Olive tree slope. We noticed multiple mysterious holes appearing on the hill, and upon closer inspection, we could see little fuzzy bee butts busy digging in the soil. These friendly and harmless bees are fascinating to watch as they go about their business of creating their underground nests. If you're curious about these ground-nesting bees and want to learn more, keep reading. In this blog post, we'll share five fun facts about ground-nesting bees in Georgia, as well as some wildlife garden tips for attracting and supporting these important pollinators in your own backyard.

Fun Facts:

1. Ground-nesting bees are solitary bees that nest in tunnels they dig in the ground.

2. Ground-nesting bees are important pollinators for many crops, including blueberries, melons, and squash.

3. Some ground-nesting bees are specialist pollinators, only visiting certain types of flowers.

4. Ground-nesting bees can be difficult to spot, as they often blend in with their surroundings and are not as social as other bee species.

5. Ground-nesting bees are typically active from early spring to late summer, with different species emerging at different times throughout the season.

Wildlife Garden Tips:

1. Create a habitat for ground-nesting bees by leaving areas of your lawn un-mowed or adding sand or bare patches of ground for nesting sites.

2. Plant a variety of flowers that bloom at different times throughout the growing season to provide a consistent source of nectar and pollen.

3. Avoid using pesticides and herbicides, which can be harmful to ground-nesting bees and other beneficial insects.

4. Provide a source of water, such as a shallow dish with pebbles, for ground-nesting bees to drink from.

5. Install bee houses or bee hotels to provide additional nesting sites for ground-nesting bees.

Reference Links:

• The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: https://xerces.org/

• The Georgia Native Plant Society: https://gnps.org/

• The University of Georgia Extension: https://extension.uga.edu/

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