When the sun is out, it’s the perfect time for fun in the sun. But it’s also the perfect time to attract pesky bees and other buzzing insects. If you’re having trouble with bees showing up to the party uninvited, look no further. We’ve got the buzz on how to keep bees away with easy tips in “Bzzzzz-Be-Gone: Easy Tips to Keep Bees Away”. With a few life hacks, you’ll be able to enjoy the summer without the worries of bees.
1. Buzz Off: Keeping Bees at Bay
British Summer time is in full swing, and with the warm weather, comes the influx of nature’s winged bounty – bees and wasps. Before you race to the nearest store for a can of insect repellent, consider the following techniques for bee and wasp control:
- Grow bee-friendly flowers. Taking the time to plant bee-friendly flowers in your garden will not only attract good pollinators, but will also make the area less attractive to stinging intruders.
- Make sure there’s no food on offer. Keep your outdoor bins tightly sealed and avoid leaving open food sources around your garden.
- Vacuum to remove nests. Use a handheld vacuum cleaner to carefully suck away any existing bee and wasp nests.
Although it may be tempting to tackle stinging insects with DIY solutions such as aerosols, they can be unsafe and are not the most environmentally friendly method of control. If the area is particularly prone to regular bee and wasp infestations, you may be best off calling in a professional to handle the problem.
If you follow these steps on a regular basis, you can successfully deter bees and wasps from your lovely garden. Then, you can finally enjoy that garden party in peace!
2. A History of Bee Deterrents
Throughout the years, humans have been turning to an array of deterrents to protect their crops and gardens from persistent bee populations. By exploring these creative solutions, we can trace the history of bee management from the days of Deucalion down to modern engineering efforts.
The Ancient Methods
Smoke has long been a go-to tool for driving away bees. Ancient civilizations from Egypt to China employed lively fires to smoke out their bee assailants. In these bee-free environments, people would take advantage of the lull to harvest their tight crops without interference.
The Medieval Methods
By the Middle Ages, more specialized forms of bee deterrents emerged – like propolis extract and sulphur. Propolis extract was believed to interfere with pheromone communication between bees, while sulphur was seen as a toxic agent that would drive off the insects.
Modern Deterrents
These days, we see a variety of engineered solutions available for keeping bees away:
- Sound repellents that create sonic barriers inaudible to humans.
- Visual aids like brightly colored tiling or water-resistant LED flashing lights designed to distract bees.
- Chemical deterrents like special pesticides and herbicides that target bees and deliver a toxic shock.
The combination of solutions contained in the modern bee deterrents toolkit put us well on our way to having greater control over the buzzing populations in our garden.
3. Natural Solutions: The Bee Chaser’s Arsenal
When bee populations get out of control, it’s important to know the various natural solutions that you can use to keep them away from your home. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – so knowing these methods will deter those pesky buzzing critters.
Plants: Plants can play a vital role in keeping bees away as they’re a natural repellent. From lemon balm to mint to lavender, planting certain herbs and flowers around your house can help in deterring bees. Additionally, there are many hybrid versions of plants that can also be used such as:
- Marigold plants
- Catnip
- Bee balm
- Geraniums
These plants will give off a smell that bees find unpleasant and will want to keep away.
Repellents: There are a few natural alternatives that can be used to keep bees away. One of the most effective is setting up a bowl filled with a combination of water, sugar, and dish soap. The sugar helps attract them and the soap helps trap them in the solution. Additionally, applying essential oils in the areas where bees typically congregate can help repel them.
By utilizing natural solutions like plants and repellents, you can ensure bees are kept away from your home. Knowing what items to use, as well as where to place them is key as these methods will act as a defense against an infestation.
4. Sprays, Stings, and Swats: Weapons of Bee Defense
The worker bees have a job to protect the hive and will do whatever it takes to keep it safe. Knowing that their home and queen are at risk, they have become experts in the art of bee defense. There are three main weapons to which they resort in order to ward off potential threats: sprays, stings, and swats.
Sprays are used when threatened by another insect or a small animal. The bees release a special mix of water and chemicals from the base of their abdomens, creating a mist-like spray that confuses their attacker. The spray also sends an alert to the hive, letting the other bees know that danger is near.
Stings are saved for more serious threats, such as humans. They can actually sting multiple times but quickly die afterward due to the loss of their stinger. When they attack, they inject a venom composed of several dangerous chemicals that can put a serious hurt on their enemies.
Swats are the bee’s most harmless tactic for defense. They will repeatedly bump an intruder with their wings in an attempt to disorient them and make them leave the area. A combination of stings and sprays will almost always follow in order to drive off the attacker.
Through a combination of these three weapons, bees are capable of protecting their home and queen from would-be attackers. A visit from a bee is usually a sign to take a step back and look elsewhere!
5. Working to be Bee-Free: Strategies for Success
Bees are a valued part of the environment, and one of mankind’s most essential pollinators. Unfortunately, bees are also at risk globally due to a lack of resources, disease, and other factors. To help protect bees, it is important to identify and use strategies that eliminate or reduce the risk to them.
We have compiled a list of helpful tactics you can use to help protect and save bees in your area:
- Improve bees’ access to food by maintaining a flower-rich garden with ample flowering plants that will provide food sources throughout the season.
- Avoid insecticides and provide alternative means of pest control.
- Leave part of your garden or lawn to nature, allowing it to remain unkempt and undisturbed for wildlife.
- Help create a safe habitat for bees by setting up bee shelters such as bee hotels or nesting boxes.
A variety of initiatives by local, state, and federal agencies are also in place to protect bee populations. For example, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Migratory Bee Plan encourages the planting of native flowering vegetation in areas around apiaries, which can help create and sustain a bee-friendly environment. The Bee Friendly Farming Network has been developed to help both farmers and bee-lovers alike in their attempts to sustain holistic ecosystems by enhancing farm pollinator habitats.
Whether big or small, bee-friendly strategies and initiatives can have a massive positive effect on the environment, and especially the bee population. We urge everyone to get involved in one way or another and do their part to help ensure a safe and healthy future for these invaluable creatures.
6. Designing a Bee-Proof Territory
Have you ever tried to keep a beehive in your garden, only to first discover that wild bees are trying to invade it? Keeping your bee-friendly garden safe from insect intruders is essential to having a healthy and well-maintained hive. Here are some tips to help you design a bee-proof territory for your hives.
1. Bee-proof your bee-friendly garden
The number one priority is to make your bee-friendly garden completely bee-proof. As long as you have an adequate fence along your property line, your bees should be safe from external threats. Any holes or gaps in the fence should be covered up, and you should also plant some shrubs and trees around the edge of the garden to create a natural barrier.
2. Utilize screens on the sides of the hive
You should also utilize screens on the sides of the hive to keep out wild bees. You can purchase pre-made screens with tiny holes that will keep the wild bees out but still allow the domestic ones to pass. If you don’t have the money to purchase pre-made screens, you can make your own out of mesh or screen material.
3. Plant bee-friendly flowers
Another important factor to consider when creating a bee-proof territory is to plant bee-friendly flowers. Not only will this help attract the pollinators you want in your garden, but it also helps fill the environment with the right kinds of aromas and activities that will keep away any unauthorized visitors. Plant a variety of brightly-colored native flowers, herbs, and shrubs to attract the bees you want.
4. Monitor vegetation around the hive
Finally, you need to keep an eye on anything that is planted close to the hive. Make sure to regularly monitor the vegetation for any sign of disruptive insects, and also check that shrubs and trees aren’t growing too close to the hive. Any plants that might attract pests should be removed.
7. A Garden of Bees-No-More: Tips for Outdoor Relief
If you want to enjoy relief from the scratching, swarming, and buzzing of bees in your garden, then you must take the appropriate steps to protect yourself. Take the sting out of the situation despite their voracious presence buzzing about the flowers. Here are some tips to make your garden a friendly place for all:
- Put an end to the nectar and pollen production: As nectar and pollen contain sugars and proteins, and are a major attraction to bees, bringing an end to food production can ensure that they move to more productive grounds. Try to minimize the amount of sweet-smelling plants, like lavender, and do away with any puddles or standing water.
- Stop them in their tracks: If you’re planning a picnic or an outdoor event, try utilizing special traps or prepared baits, or even setting netting to catch bees alive. Bees won’t take too kindly to citronella, so ring the area with candles or torches to steer them away.
In cases where natural remedies don’t seem to completely take the sting out of the situation, you can always opt for commercial sprays with insecticide, to get rid of the bees. Make sure to follow these tips, as they’ll be key to ensuring your garden is a buzzing free one.
To make sure your garden remains a haven of tranquility, consider planting fragrant plants to attract natural predators, such as birds, who can help keep the bee population under control. Clean up any dead bees, and be sure to check your surroundings regularly for any returning colonies.
8. Bite the Bullet: Advice on Professional Bee Removal
When it comes to professional bee removal, the important thing to remember is that it isn’t something to be taken lightly. Bees and other pollinators play an essential role in our environment, and without them, the entire ecosystem would suffer. So wherever possible, it’s important to try and find non-lethal solutions which preserve their lives and habitats.
That said, there are times when professional bee removal may be necessary. Whether it’s a hive in an inconvenient place or a declining species which needs to be moved to a safer location, it’s important to be prepared for the task. Here are a few key points to consider when looking for a reputable bee removal service:
- Does the company have the experience and certification in bee removal? Quality is key here: you don’t want to end up with a failed attempt or worse, a failed eco-system.
- Are they using eco-friendly methods to move the bees and their hives? When possible, you should look for techniques which are gentle on the bees, the environment, and the surrounding eco-system.
- What kind of follow-up services do they provide? You’ll want to make sure the removal is successful, and that the hive is neither destroyed nor relocated unnecessarily. If possible, look for a company which offers bi-monthly hive inspections and maintenance.
- Do they offer relocation and re-homing services? Depending on the circumstances, the bees may have to be relocated to a safer place. It’s important to find out what kind of setup the relocation services provide.
In the end, the successful removal of bees and their hives requires the knowledge and experience of a professional bee removal specialist. Whether it’s for conservation, safety, or convenience, it’s important to take the time to choose the right company for the job.
Being prepared for bee season doesn’t have to include swatting and spraying. With the tips outlined in this article, you can keep yourself and bees safe, healthy and happy. Say goodbye to the buzzing that can often keep us from enjoying the outdoors – and hello to a bee-free summer!