Bees are an integral part of life and we rely on them for more than just pollinating our plants. While we enjoy the sweeter smells that bees associate with their nectar, there are some smells that bees simply don’t like. If you don’t want to deter bees from your garden, it is important to know what smells to avoid. In this article, we’ll explore what smells bees don’t like and how to help protect them from unwanted odors.
1.The Buzz on Bees: Smells to Steer Clear Of
Bees are some of the most hardworking little creatures out there, but they can get easily confused or scared by strong scents. As much as they love to linger over sweet-smelling flowers, they’re just as likely to panic if they get hit with an overwhelming smell. Here’s what you should avoid if you want to protect your friendly local bees:
- Chemical or Industrial fragrances: These are the biggest baddies for bees, the powerful artificial smells created for products in industrial settings can be impossible for bee sensors to take in, and the damage could be severe.
- Strongly scented perfumes: One of the main ways bees collect pollen and help their hive is by using their sense of smell to forage for nectar. That means that anything that gets too close to their noses (especially powerful perfumes) can easily overwhelm them and confuse them out of their food routine.
Even if you’re not a beekeeper, taking into account the little creatures’ preferences before you use any strong fragrances around your home can help keep them safe and their habitats healthy.
By paying attention to the smells around you, and making sure to keep areas where bees linger clear of fragrances, you can help preserve their ecosystems and overall wellbeing. After all, we owe them a lot, given how hard they work to keep us fed and healthy!
2.What Bees Absolutely Despise
Bees are usually the embodiment of peace and serenity, which often leads people to believe that they’d actually like everything. But here’s the reality – bees are like everyone else, they’ve got their own likes and dislikes. So while they might like lavender and beehives, there are certain factors they absolutely despise.
- Extremes of Weather: Bitter cold in the wintertime and the hot summer sun can both be damaging and risky for bees. They are not meant to survive in either of these extreme temperatures, which can severely deplete their energy and weaken their immune system.
- Pesticides: Pesticides can contaminate their food sources and home. This poisonous compound can kill the bees and put their hive at risk. Furthermore, it can destroy flowering plants in which they rely to feed on and thrive.
- Inbreeding: Inbreeding can lead to inbred and weakened bees that do not help the culture of their colonies and have a hard time taking care of themselves. Inbreeding can lead to a few fatal and serious diseases that can be targeted by predators in the environment such as hornets, ants, and spiders.
- Noise and Light Pollution: Bees, just like human beings, get disturbed due to too much noise, lights and visual stimulus on the environment. As their senses get interrupted, their navigation, which is critical for their species’ survival, can be corrupted and they could get lost while trying to find their way.
To summarize, bees can be pretty unhappy if they’re exposed to extremes of weather, pesticides, inbreeding, noise and light pollution. So the next time you want to ensure that your bees are happy and healthy, make sure to keep these factors in mind.
3.Keeping Your Bees Buzzing: Avoiding Pollutants
As beekeepers, it is our responsibility to make sure that our beloved bees stay healthy. Unfortunately, much of the health risks to bees come from environmental pollutants. That’s why it’s so important for beekeepers to make sure that the environment surrounding the bee hives is clean and free of pollutants. Here are a few ways you can do this:
- Limit pesticide use: Pesticides should be avoided when possible, especially in the immediate area of the hives. Make sure to never spray any chemicals near where the bees will be foraging and always read product labels carefully.
- Be mindful of local conditions: Pollution levels vary greatly depending on location. Be sure to research and pay attention to the pollution levels in your area, and factor that into your beekeeping strategy.
- Control the amount of stress your bees are under: Stress lowers the immunity and resilience of bees, leaving them more vulnerable to the effects of pollution. Minimize stress sources by avoiding strong vibrations, lighting, and other sources of stress.
By following these simple practices, you can go a long way in keeping your bees away from dangerous pollutants. Moreover, you will be doing your part to contribute to the health and success of the environment around the hive.
4.Fragrance Free Zone: What Not to Wear
It can be hard to find somewhere you can go to and be assured of a pleasant and fragrant experience. Creating a ‘Fragrance-Free Zone’ is one way to ensure you can enjoy the freshness of a room without the overwhelming scent of someone else’s perfumes. Here’s what not to wear if you want to ensure that your area stays fragrance-free!
Avoid synthetic fragrances: Synthetic fragrances, such as those found in air fresheners, perfumes, and detergents, can be an overpowering source of smell. Instead of these, try to use a range of natural options, like essential oils, or lightly smell fragrances like lavender and orange.
Wear something breathable: Clothing that can help release the scent of your natural body oils is ideal for a fragrance-free zone. Stick to loose, lightweight fabrics that allow the body to breathe and keep odor at bay.
- Linen
- Silk
- Cotton
Offload your favourite scent at the door: To really ensure your Fragrance-Free Zone stays that way, take any strong-scented items off your body before entering. This includes perfume, cologne, and even certain lotions. After all, no-one likes an overpowering scent!
5.Going to Great Lengths to Avoid Noxious Odors
Nobody wants their house to reek unpleasant odours, so it’s essential to take preventative measure beforehand. Here’s 5 ways to do just that:
- Clean your kitchen drains, garbage disposal, and garbage bin frequently. Grime and waste can accumulate quickly, leading to some nasty smells. Be sure to wipe your counters, as well – grease and food particles on them can build up and attract more bad odours.
- Set up an air purifier. Many are equipped with carbon filters that can help remove bad smells. A HEPA filter can also be added, which will absorb odours and reduce allergies.
- Use baking soda. An old cleaning hack that is extremely effective, sprinkling some baking soda on your carpets and furniture can draw off odours and keep your home fresher. Leaving some out in open containers may also help to absorb bad smells.
- Vacuum regularly. Vacuuming your carpets, furniture and curtains can should help eliminate bad smells in your home. It can also help to remove dust mites and other allergens, and the carpets will appear brighter and cleaner.
- Invest in proper insulation. Uninsulated windows and doors can allow bad odours to escape into your home. Make sure your home is adequately protected and install a ventilation system to help circuluate the air inside your home.
Ultimately, it’s important to remain aware of the potential for bad odours in your home. Be proactive and take steps to ensure that strong smells aren’t allowed to develop in the first place. With these tips, you’ll be able to keep your home odour-free.
6.Be a Beekeeper’s Friend: Pay Attention to What You’re Wearing
- Wear blues and yellows – when it comes to beekeeping, the beekeeper’s relationship to their charges start with the clothing. In order to keep the bees calm while beekeeping, wear earth tones such as shades of blue or yellow. This encourages a sense of safety and trust.
- Avoid perfumes and scents – the goal is to reduce any unnecessary distractions that may disappoint the bees. Scented sprays, lotions and perfumes can agitate them, so don’t wear any when you’re around the hive. This tip doesn’t just apply when you’re working, but also if you’re just visiting the hives.
- Dress for the season – spring or summer, pick a lightweight sleeved shirt and trousers for when you’re near the bees. In winter, dress warmer with longer sleeves and cover yourself from head-to-toe. In the summer, it’s best to tuck your shirt into your trousers and avoid jewelry that shines or dangles—anything that might confuse or agitate the honey bees.
When you’re dressed for the part, try to move slowly and gently around the apiary. Don’t make any fast movements and anticipate the bees’ response to your behavior. Remember that the bees should always come first. If you’re mindful of that, you’ll be well on your way to a happy friendship with them.
7.Cheer Up Those Bees! How Exercise Can Benefit Your Colony
Bees are our beloved friends of the environment, and we should do our best to give them the best life possible. Exercise is one way to that! Here’s how:
- Stronger Wings: Regular exercise helps to strengthen the wings of your colony’s bees, allowing them to fly easily and cover greater distances in search of food and nectar.
- Boosts Energy Levels: Exercise, much like in humans, boosts energy levels and increases stamina over time – something that can be especially helpful if the weather is hot and humid.
- Improves Cognitive Abilities: Studies have shown that, like us, bees also possess cognitive abilities, and that regular physical activity can help to reinforce and strengthen these abilities.
Regular exercise for your colony is simple, and doesn’t need to involve too much planning. A good way to ensure that your colony gets the exercise it deserves is by providing them with regular sources of activity, like access to plant-based materials for foraging. This can help delight and ‘exercise’ your colony’s bees.
The most important thing is to provide variety to the sources of exercise available to your colony. Whether it’s during a sunny day or a windy evening, take the time to offer your bees various source of activities and help them get their much-needed physical activity. With a few minute’s of exercising each day, you’ll be sure to see the benefits in no time!
8.Say Bye to Nasty Niff: How Gardeners Can Create Bee-Friendly Gardens
Gardeners love to cultivate their outdoor spaces free of pests and smells, but often times they just don’t know how. Nasty niff can be an issue in any garden, and bees may be a nuisance as they buzz around flowers looking for nectar. Luckily, there are ways to say bye to nasty niff and create a bee-friendly garden.
Neutralize With Plants: If a gardener wants to take the natural route and minimize their carbon footprint, there are a few plants the can neutralize and eliminate the niff. Garlic, fragrant herbs, and Nepeta all work to keep the niff away, as well as attract bees.
Creating a Bee Café: Creating a bee café can be a great way to provide a steady stream of nectar for bees and butterflies. Plant plenty of one-day and repeat bloomers, like black-eyed susans, woolly sunflowers and primrose. Include herbs like basil and tansy, and flowers such as poppy, dahlia and cosmos.
Landscaping Tips: A well-designed landscape will help keep nasty niff at bay, while providing an inviting area for bees and other beneficial insects. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Create areas that are sunny and well-drained, as most plants prefer these conditions.
- Include shade trees and shrubs to provide shelter for bees, as well as mulch to retain moisture.
- Plant a variety of flowering plants to provide something for bees to feed on.
- Create nectar rich areas like meadows and butterfly gardens.
Creating a bee-friendly garden is easier than you think and it is an exciting way to promote conservation and beautiful outdoor spaces. The rewards are worth the effort.
Remember to be mindful of what you use to avoid bees– there are natural and chemical methods available. But no matter what you do, always be careful around bees and respect their role in our incredible ecosystem. Plus, who doesn’t love a beekeeper in a bee costume? Keep bee-ing bee-utiful everyone!
