What kind of bee burrows in ground like hornets?

Question

I have some right at my front door. They look like bumble bees but smaller. I don't want to kill them if they are harmless and won't bother us or try to get in the house. I know hornets are aggressive and I am wondering if these bees will be as well. I just want to know what kind they are and their job. Thanks

Answer 1

Those are Yellow Jackets, and are yellow and black striped and about the size of a honeybee.

They are more kin to the hornet than the bumblebee, and they do sting..

Answer 2

Most likely yellow jackets. Nasty things. If one of them stings you you will get a huge and painful swelling that can last a week or more. I got stung by one once. My finger swelled to nearly twice it's normal size and turned red and little purple. It went away after 12 days. Get and exterminator A.S.A.P. or go cover yourself completely including face and head (make sure there is not space for them to sting you), and exterminate them yourself.

Answer 3

Sounds like they are probably digger bees:

http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/...

They are usually a lot less aggressive than even bumble bees (which are not very aggressive themselves), and won't sting unless they are actively injured.  Also, they don't have the same mass-stinging response that a hive like honeybees or yellowjackets would - each digger bee has its own nest and is its own queen, they do not have workers willing to lay down their lives for the hive.

Digger bees are important for pollination of many plants.  My mother had hundreds of them nesting under her front porch for years with no indidents at all (other than an overly frightened mail carrier).

Answer 4

In Indiana we used to call the "Yellow Jackets" or "Sweat Bees". They aren't at all beneficial like other bees. They will sting, and you should get them exterminated before you have a nest you can't handle.