Sweat bees real bad this year- control?

[Skyco]

I've noticed huge numbers of sweat bees this year at my land in western NC. Never had this many before. I've done a lot of yellow jacket control the last two years with traps and seem to have wiped out the majority of them. I went on that mission after getting stung about 6 times when I accidently disturbed a nest. I wonder if yellow jackets prey on sweat bees

Reading on the net the sweat bees are primarily after the salt in sweat. Anyone ever tried to bait them away from the peopled areas with a salt block? I'm going to try it. They were a real nuisance the last two trips I've made up there to work on a storage building. They crawl all over me when I get sweaty working in the heat, and I got stung several times when I sat in a lawn chair and either had one on my back or on the chair that objected to getting trapped with the resulting sting administered. Fortunatly their sting is about 1% of a yellow jacket sting, doesn't hurt/itch for days like a yellow jacket but still not pleasant.
My almost 80 year old father says they drove them nuts on the Kentucky farm he was raised on.

Thoughts?

 

[dmccarty]

Dang if this is not time approbriate.

Last night my oldest was out riding her bike. Next think I know she is running to the house screaming and crying. SOMETHING stung her.

Gave her an ice pack while I mixed up some vinger and baking soda to put on the bite site. She described as best she could what bit her and the only thing I could think of was a sweat bee. She was riding in the driveway so a yellow jacket was not likely. She said it was very small, yellow and black. Were she was stung there has been a bug buzzing me off and on for the past few days. Went out to the spot afterwards concerned that maybe there was a yellow jacket nest nearby but did not see anything flying and it was getting towards dark.

The only thing I could think of that bit her was a sweat bee.

I had something after me in the garden on Saturday and Sunday but a few swipes with the Tilley Hat persuaded the flying biting thing that there was a better place to be.

Later,
Dan

 

[N80]

They have been bad here too. Maybe not way worse than usual but a little. Constantly buzzing around my head, drives me nuts. I don't get bit much because I usually have long pants and long sleeve shirt on when working in the sun but all that flying around my head, into my face etc is maddening.

 

[Skyco]

Yeah I have found they will crawl all over you without stinging if you don't mess with them. Pinch one though and he'll get you...takes a lot of nerve to let them crawl all over you though, very annoying

 

[thepumpguysc]

I feel your pain.. literally.. Lol
I'm a "sweater" & I too wear long clothes BUT they get my head & neck area.!!! & THAT HURTS..
I'll "bee keeping" an eye on this thread..

 

[oosik]

Man - do I consider myself fortunate out here in the Northern climes of Ea WA state. No sweat bees, no carpenter bees, no chiggers, no fire ants. We do occasionally have bald faced hornets but that's about it. And on extremely rare occasions I will find a carpenter ant when out & about on the property. We do have yellow jackets - but they are seldom a problem.

 

[cqaigy2]

Man - do I consider myself fortunate out here in the Northern climes of Ea WA state. No sweat bees, no carpenter bees, no chiggers, no fire ants. We do occasionally have bald faced hornets but that's about it. And on extremely rare occasions I will find a carpenter ant when out & about on the property. We do have yellow jackets - but they are seldom a problem.

I know what you mean, and on the west side of the state we don't have scorpions or rattlesnake, there are more carpenter ant and termites though.