Ground-Nesting Wasps and Bees. A number of wasps (Hymenoptera) are found in landscapes. Females of many species have a stinger, which is their egg laying structure (ovipositor) equipped with a venom sac. Cicada killers and sand wasps are solitary nesting species that dig nesting burrows in turf. Some social wasps such as Southern yellow jackets, and bees such as bumble bees and Africanized honey bees also occasionally nest in the ground. Velvet ants, including cow killers are solitary wasps that are parasitic on ground nesting bees.