Morphology and temporal evolution of ground-nesting bee burrows

It has been brutally hot here in NTexas this summer, 110F (43.3C) yesterday and we are in a prolonged drought more than 13" (33cm) below normal precipitation for this year after ending last year more than 13.5" (34.3cm) below normal.

In order to keep insect pollinators and birds around my yard and garden I bought several solar powered fountain pumps and placed them in tubs with rocks and decaying wood so that the wasps could have water and plant fibers to build their nests. I replace everything lost to evaporation daily. These insects all apparently recognize me. I can sit beside the tub and rearrange everything inside while it fills and they buzz the tub waiting for an opportunity to land and get a drink. I have not had a single problem with any of the red wasps, yellowjackets, or paper wasps that use the tub all day. I think to them I am a necessary part of the landscape.

I sat at the tub while filling it at the beginning of the summer and watched where all the wasps and bees were coming from and returning to as they visited so I know pretty accurately where they are nesting. Doing this I discovered that one group was sheltering behind the engine cover panels of a piece of farm equipment. As it turned out I needed to do some maintenance on that engine a couple weeks ago.

I gathered my oil, air, and fuel filters, and a couple gallons (7.6l) of engine oil and raised the panel so I could get started. Sure enough there was a nest right beside the radiator fan with nearly a dozen wasps. They were all busy tending larval pods except one, the guard wasp, who oriented towards me and kept his wings in the swept-V, go position. I ignored them and went about my work removing old filters and installing new filters and then I hit the part where you have to refill the crankcase with oil.

The fill port is at the front of the engine in a location where I would have to keep my arm within 6" (15.2cm) of their nest as I poured oil into the funnel so I knew this would be the real test of whether they knew and trusted me.

I kept my motion slow and deliberate and carefully refilled the crankcase. My bare forearm was within 3" (7.62cm) of their nest for several minutes and yet none of them left the nest or made any attempt to bother me.

I am pretty sure that all those wasps know me, the sombrero guy who brings the water, and they understand that I am not gonna bother them.

I allow wasps to build nests anywhere on my place except right in the swing arc of a doorway. Experience shows that no matter how many times they see a door swing open and closed they never get used to it not being a threat so at some point one of them will drop down and tap the top of your head to let you know you have annoyed them. When wasps try to build in a doorway I remove the nest before there are two wasps and that single wasp will always find somewhere else to build.

These things have kept my garden producing all during this hot summer. Whenever I water my squash, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers, herbs and fruit trees, I sometimes see a dozen wasps and bees swarming to escape the spray. Not a single one has ever buzzed or stung me even though I frequently reach into leaves to harvest.

Good luck with your wasps. Offer things that they need and they will be your friends.