Sand Wasps: A Friendly Nuisance or Harmful Pest?

For a few weeks every year we have little friends make homes in our sand traps. These fast fliers are officially known as the Bembix Sand Wasp. They dig numerous burrows in soft sand (ie- bunkers) to lay their eggs. Juvenile wasps, known as larvae, emerge from the eggs where they remain in the sand and grow into adults. Adult females congregate together in large numbers when making nests to bait their prey. The higher populations of larvae in nesting sites attract flies, beetles, caterpillars and grasshopper. These insects are captured by the female sand wasp and taken back to the sand burrows to be fed to the growing larvae. 

Close up of a Sand Wasp

The existence of these critters in the bunkers is a nuisance to golfer but beneficial to the the course as they help to control the population of flies and detrimental turf beetles by preying on them. The greatest concern for golfers is that they will get stung by these wasps when entering a bunker to play a shot.   Studies have proven that this particular wasp is not aggressive and of no harm to humans.  Both male and females wasps will not sting humans unless they are stepped on or smashed between your hands.  When approached by a human the sand wasp will initially swarm, looking for food, and then go back to their burrows to protect their larvae.  It may be a distraction when trying to play a shot from a bunker but keep in mind, bunkers are hazards and populations will dissipate in September when new adults emerge from the sand.

Shown here are a few females hovering over their nests protecting their growing young

For a video demonstrating the aggression and sting capabilities of the sand wasp, click on or copy and paste the following link to a web browser- .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB4bJkZFDhE 

What's Between 10 Green and 18 Tee?

With summer in mid swing, fall is right around the corner. Fall conditions not only bring great golfing weather but also the perfect time for projects to be done on the golf course.  In addition to continuing to renovate bunkers, we would like to expand a few of the greens to allow for added pin locations throughout the playing season. Dating back to 2009, the establishment of a sod nursery began between 18 tee and 10 green with the intended purpose of using this area for future projects such as greens expansions.

Area between 18 Tee and 10 Green mowed at rough height as of 2011

First cut following spring aeration May 2014

In order to take the area from rough height down to greens height we needed both time and aggressive cultural practices.Taking the area from rough height to fairway height was fairly simple- the difficult and time consuming change has been taking the nursery from fairway height down to greens height. In 2011, we began dropping the height of the nursery closer and closer to greens height without killing the bent/poa mixture that we had established in the prior two years.  In addition to beginning the height descent from .5" to .105", we became more intensive with the agronomic practices on this green so that its upper profile will best match the existing greens. As of the start of this season, the green has been managed at greens height and will be suitable for use in the future.

Top: Plug from #10 Green
Bottom: Plug from sod nursery
Soil profile in the top 2" shows that the sod nursery is beginning to have similar characteristics as regular greens

Sod Nursery ready for action!