Bees and ants in the lawn. - Knowledgebase Question

Chardon, Oh
Avatar for tayjen24
Question by tayjen24
April 28, 2009
We have bees that build in the ground early spring lay eggs then leave,also we have alot of ant hills. The bees took over a 10sq ft area. We've tried insectisides and home remedies, but nothings worked. How do we get rid of them both?


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Answer from NGA
April 28, 2009
Ground nesting bees and wasps are beneficial insects in that they help pollinate flowers and prey on other insects - but if their nests are ill-placed and you're concerned about the health of your children or yourself, you're probably justified in exterminating them. You can invert a clear bowl or mason jar over each of the holes in the ground to trap them in their nesting areas. Do this at dusk, when all the bees or wasps are at home. In the morning they'll try to leave the nest and will become trapped. They aren't smart enough to dig an escape hole, so they'll stay in the ground and eventually starve to death. Remove the jars after a week of inactivity in the nest, and cover the holes up with soil. The control of ants really depends upon the types of ants but pouring boiling water into the hills usually discourages them. You may have to make repeat applications but eventually they will move their homes to a different area. Best wishes with your garden.

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