I know this thread has kept you on the edge of your seat all evening.  Searching through some bug sites yeilded results that eluded the hive mind.  I believe they are called "mining bees" and they are docile and present no threat.  They don't work in hives, they build individual nests near each other.  They like the sandy, dry areas they have chosen to nest in.



So what the heck are these things?







They have been multiplying rapidly.  About two weeks ago I first noticed them.  They are in my back yard.  They cirle around low to the ground when they fly.  They are capable of rapid flight to avoid the can of RAID.  If you can land it on them, it will kill them, however there are hundreds of them and raid is four bucks a can and only lasts about 20 seconds.

These flying insects are building lots of little nests in the ground.  Some have a mound of dirt around the entrance, some do not.  

I nuked the area saturday with raid and about 15 lbs of Sevin (carbaryl).  It did nothing.  They might be building their mounds out of the stuff.  Today there are easily twice as many nests.  

The insects do not seem aggressive and don't sting.  I've driven my lawnmower through them, laid down bug killier walking around all over with them... they don't seem to care.  

The bugs are black, they have a yellow furry patch on the part behind the head.  Those are the best pictures I can do with my camera.  The bugs have some sand on them from rolling around on the ground to die.  

My soil is sandy in the back yard.  They like those areas best I think.  

Do I need to unass the A.O.?

Kill them with fire?

Call terminix?

Run around and scream like a little girl?

Get an anteater?

Ask DrFriDge to borrow his spider collection?

Ignore the problem entirely?

EDIT to correct my title because I used the wrong word.  Blame public schools.

Nuke from orbit!









Looks like sweat bees or somethin.




ETA: Total thread fail, poll and all, with no nuke from orbit option.. Try again!

And you want an anthropologist because...............

After reading the thread title requesting 'anthropologists,' this was totally not what I was expecting.

PS remember, fire in 3 second bursts like a professional, and you'll also save ammo Raid that way.

+1

Inquiring minds want to know.

How's an Anthropologist going to help you?

You mean archeologist.

Dude, they look like quarters to me.

Maybe he wants one in the sense of.............. fuck I have no idea!

Maybe he meant Entomology?????

 cuz they study dead things!

Here we go.

And, just 'cuz, this thread needs more big words.

HYMENOPTERA

I have always wanted to use that in a post.

This COULD have a direct correlation to the physical, social, and cultural development of humans.

If one wanted it to bad enough!

brake cleaner is good stuff to use on hives in general.

Ok, now that you've requested the right science, they are insects

There ya go!

I want the entomologist perk so I can do an additional 30% damage to insects (which strangely includes giant arachnids) too!

So does anyone know what these bugs are yet?  Are they going to eat my house or what?

If they have little yellow spots on forehead, than they are Carpenter Bees.  Will drill perfectly round holes in wood.  You Do Not Want.

Sevin sucks, scrounge up some Diazanon [sp] from some smaller hardware store and sprinkle a bit on the top of each mound. It'll clean them out ASAP. Chloridane would be better but it's TOO good so it went bye bye years ago. [I am somewhat stingy with what I have, it takes VERY little to do the job]

Look like some type of fly.
 

You want someone to color your hair? Entymolgist? Or antimologist?

If they do not show up on this list, you're probably ok.

If they do show up on this list, you need to start putting distance between them and you RIGHT NOW.  Do not look back.  Do not attempt to salvage anything from your past life, past life being defined as prior to right this minute.  You have been warned.

These are much smaller than carpenter bees.  Carpenter bees are chubby, kinda round.  These guys are long and skinny.  They also always fly low to the ground.

A napkin, a quarter, some loose tobacco, and a couple of bugs.

What do I win?

You win a glass of FAIL.  Drink it up.  Now tell me what type of insects those are.