wasp/bee in brick grout

19 years ago

I have a wasp or bee looking bug that is making a hole in the grout of my brick. It is making a round hole into the grout on the corner of the brick behind my shutter. It seems to be burrowing in. Is there any type of wasp or bee that anyone knows of that does this to brick/grout, and what can I do about it? I try to be tolerant, but it's right by my front door, and I don't want holes in the grout. I'd prefer something organic or the least toxic method of removal since I have kids and pets (and it's at the door).

Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks,

Becky

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Comments (9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
19 years ago
carpenter bees make perfect round holes in WOOD ...

geez .. maybe this one is on steroids.. lol

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
kateslegacy
Original Author
19 years ago
No, it's much smaller than a carpenter bee. As my kids would say, it doesn't have the "big butt" either... lol.

Thanks for the info though.
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jean001
19 years ago
Most likely the hole/crack was there first, then the wasp/bee discovered it.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
19 years ago
I'll bet that jean001 has nailed it on the head! Makes sense that there might have been a masonary nail put in right behind the shutter at some time, right?
kateslegacy
Original Author
19 years ago
Nope, actually I think I may have figured it out. There was dirt that had filled in the space between the grout recession and the shutter in front of it. I think it's a mud wasp and he was boring into the dirt, not the grout. He did make the hole, it wasn't there before. After working all day he/she must have laid an egg or something because it then filled the hole back in.

Does this sound like a mud wasp to anyone?

Thanks,

becky
botanybob
19 years ago
Maybe it was a mason bee...
jean001
19 years ago
A mud wasp has a very slender "waist" -- the connection between the thorax and the abdomen.

A mason bee looks very similar to a black fly. It has a broad "waist."

Mason bees use empty tunnels -- in stems, under shingles, and the like -- to construct a series of individual cells to hold their eggs along with food to nourish the youngster when it hatches. After the tunnel is full, it is sealed with mud.
Philip Hulse
5 years ago
I have this problem too, was a solution found?
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Philip Hulse, this is an ancient thread, the OP might not answer.

watch it for a while and see what flies in/out?

if you're worried about what they are, or if they're burrowing into an inconvenient location, try finding a bee expert (not pest control, but somebody who knows about bees). nextdoor or local neighborhood facebook groups might be able to help you locate one in your area. they can help you determine what it is and if it's bees, safely move them w/o killing them. if they determine it's something more nefarious, then you may need to consider an exterminator. then patch / cover up holes so nothing else tries to move in.

at least you don't have this situation! https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/us/bees-car-new-mexico.html