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How to identify it
Look-alikes
| Look-alike | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Carpenter bee | Shiny, mostly hairless abdomen and a head as broad as the thorax; tunnels into wood.[1][2] |
| Honey bee | Colonies usually nest in hollow trees and sometimes in wall voids or attics.[3] |
Where it lives
Queens nest in old mouse or rabbit nests, holes in the ground, stumps, along foundations and similar cavities near flowering plants.[1]
Biology and life cycle
A mated queen overwinters and starts a nest in spring; colonies usually hold fewer than 50 bees and last only one summer.[1]
New queens are produced in late summer; workers and males die with the first hard freeze.[1]
Damage and signs
- No property damage; the issue is nests where people walk or mow.[1]
Health risk
Queens and workers can sting more than once; disturbed nests, such as ones hit by mowers, can lead to repeated stings.[1]
Control
Prevention
The best option is usually to avoid the area until the colony dies out at the end of the season.[1]
When to call a professional
Only nests where people will contact them need control; a professional can handle these safely.[1]
Why bumble bees nest in the ground
Bumble bee queens come out in spring, feed on early flowers to regain energy, then search for nest sites that include holes in the ground such as old mouse nests.[5]
How long a bumble bee nest lasts
In Pennsylvania, a bumble bee colony lasts one summer: a single queen starts it in spring, it raises new queens and males late in summer, and it dies after the first hard frost.[4]
Only the new mated queens survive the winter, hibernating away from the old nest.[4]
Leave it or remove it?
If the bees aren't damaging a structure or acting aggressively, Penn State suggests leaving them in peace.[4]
Remove a colony only when it threatens residents, children, pets or structures, and choose a method suited to the species.[4]
Social bees like bumble bees defend their nests together, while solitary bees rarely behave defensively.[4]
Common questions
- Will bumble bees come back to the same hole next year?
- Colonies last one summer; new queens overwinter elsewhere and pick new nest sites in spring.[1]
- How long will bumble bees stay in a ground nest?
- One season; the colony dies after the first hard frost and only new queens overwinter.[4]
- Should I get rid of a bumble bee nest in my yard?
- If it isn't threatening people, pets or structures, Penn State suggests leaving it alone.[4]
Sources
- Ohio State University Extension, “Bumble Bees and Solitary Bees & Wasps in Urban Landscapes, HYG-2143 (2011).” ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-2143-10 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Kentucky Entomology, “ENTFACT-611: Carpenter Bees.” entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef611 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Kentucky Entomology, “ENTFACT-606: Controlling Nuisance Honey Bees.” entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef606 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Penn State Extension, “Five-Step Decision Support: Nesting Bees and Wasps Near Homes.” extension.psu.edu/five-step-decision-support-nesting-bees-and-wasps-near-homes (accessed 2026-10-14)
- Penn State Extension, “Spring Bees: Who Are They and Where Do They Live?.” extension.psu.edu/spring-bees-who-are-they-and-where-do-they-live (accessed 2026-10-14)
- iNaturalist, “Bombus impatiens taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/118970 (accessed 2026-10-06)