Growing number of NC bees nesting underground emerging to pollinate, wildlife officials say

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — As plants and flowers bloom this Spring, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission warns residents of the bees burrowing underground who have begun to emerge to pollinate.

The wildlife officials said they have received numerous calls from panicked landowners who have “a bunch of little bees hovering over the ground.”

This is because, according to wildlife officials, little burrows full of solitary bees reside across small, cool areas such as a front or back yard. The National Wildlife Federation said solitary bees make up about 98 percent of native bee species in the United States, and more than 500 of those species nest underground in North Carolina.

The burrowing bees nest in masses, according to wildlife officials. They have no hive or colony to defend, so they are more inclined to fly away from danger than feel the need to attack. Wildlife officials said only female solitary bees have the anatomy to be able to sting.

“Some people believe the solution is to pour gasoline into their burrows or spray them with insecticides to rid them of an area. But bees provide a crucial pollinator role to our ecosystem.”

According to wildlife officials, the wild bees provide pollination services for over 80 percent of flowers in NC.

“Furthermore,” officials added, “they contribute billions of dollars to our economy by pollinating crops.”

Wildlife officials said the ground-nesting bees hover above the surface for a very short time. They said after spending two to three weeks above ground, the bees won’t emerge again until next spring.