Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:33:08 -0400
From: Salinda Dahl
Subject: Ground bees?
My inquiry on the last chatlist was somehow shortened, thus giving the wrong impression. I do not have fire ants on my property. The insect making the hole in the ground, with a small mound of dirt around it is a black and white flying wasp, fly, or bee. Just yesterday a friend said that these are ground bees and are pollinators, which we
very much need since the decrease in bee population. I suspect that this is what another writer saw in Pittsboro, rather than fire ants. Perhaps our cherished county extension agent Al Cooke could enlighten us? Meanwhile, let’s not be too hasty to apply eradicating chemicals.