Why do so many kinds of bees nest in the ground?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do so many kinds of bees nest in the ground?

The Big Idea

When you think of bees, you might picture a hive. But most kinds of bees nest in the ground! Let's find out why.

Most Bees

Step one: Most Bees. About seven out of ten bee species dig their nests in the soil. They are called ground-nesting bees.

Baby Rooms

Step two: Baby Rooms. Each female digs a tunnel and makes little rooms stocked with pollen for her babies. Most do not live in big colonies.

Sunny Soil

Step three: Sunny Soil. They look for bare, sunny patches of dry soil. Leaving a little bare ground in your yard helps them. They are usually not dangerous to people.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The mother digs a tunnel. She makes little rooms. She fills them with pollen. Each baby bee grows inside.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! You may see small mounds of soil with a hole in the middle where a bee has dug. Ground-nesting bees help pollinate flowers and crops. Most ground-nesting bees live alone, not in hives. They like warm, sunny spots.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! On a sunny spring day, look for small holes and mounds in bare soil. Watch from a distance, and never poke the holes. Do you see any bees coming and going? Draw what you see. Share your drawing with a grown-up.

Outro

Most kinds of bees nest in the ground. Each female digs a tunnel with little rooms stocked with pollen, in bare, sunny soil. Leaving some bare ground helps them. Science is amazing! Keep wondering and keep exploring! Share what you learned with someone at home, and see what they think! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!