Who knew that bees could be picky when it came to the scents they like? With their powerful sense of smell, these winged wonders are able to detect the sweetest of aromas from far and wide. But not all scents are welcomed by bees – some fragrances are downright repellant to them. In this article, we explore the range of scents bees reject and why.
1. Sweet and Sour: What Bees Don’t Want
Bees are attracted to the floral scents of the sweet nectars of fruits and flowers, but that’s not the only thing they’re after. Bees also prefer sour scents as there are certain flowers whose scent is more acidic and sour. They don’t just play favorites to sweet scents, as you might expect.
Vines of Their Own: Sour scents come from vines all the way from the celoriac to the passion fruit. These vines produce a sweet scent, but with a sour taste. This is a major draw for the bee and they will usually travel to find it no matter the distance. While sweet nectars are usually found in flowers, sour scents can be found in vines and can be attracted to bees from outside the flowers.
Searching for a Sour Taste: The attraction to sour scents is linked to the search for nutrients and minerals. Bees look for polar molecules in the nectar that contain calcium, iron, and other minerals. As the bees transfer from flower to flower, they look for the most nutrient-rich and flavorful nectar out there – and that usually comes in sour scents.
A Range of Sour Scents: So which sour scents can you find among flowers? Let’s start with celoriac, which contains pear and elderberry scents with hints of lemon and anise. Then there’s the passion fruit, with a tart taste of mango and papaya. Last but not least, there’s the marigold, whose scents range from citrus to citrus-mint and a hint of nutmeg. All of these sour scents attract bees.
- Celoriac – Pear, elderberry, lemon, and anise
- Passion fruit – Mango, papaya, and tart
- Marigold – Citrus, citrus-mint, and nutmeg
No matter what flavor the bee, they strive for a balanced blend of sweet and sour scents. They may prefer one taste over the other, but they usually can find joy in a mix of both sweet and sour.
2. Pungent Aroma: Rejection by Insects
Insects rely on their sense of smell to detect prey, find food sources, and even recognize potential mates. Many plants also employ scent as a defense mechanism, releasing a pungent aroma either to repel predators or to attract beneficial bugs for pollination.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise that certain plants have developed an even more extreme form of pest resistance: a smell that’s so unpleasant, even the bravest of bugs will steer clear of it. The aroma of these plants can range from skunky and musky to downright rancid.
- Skunky Scent Recognized by Moths — The cabbage moth is particularly sensitive to sulfur-based compounds, which are often found in skunk-like smelling plants. Research suggests that when the cabbage moth encounters this repellant aroma, it instinctively turns away.
- Musty Aroma Deters Fungal Bugs — Certain plants’ musty-smelling aromas are known to effectively repel fungal bugs. These compounds are thought to be toxic to fungi, making them a key component in pest-resistant formations.
- Rancid Odors Fend Off Beetles — Beetles typically tend to stay away from plants with a putrid or rancid odor. This aroma is caused by the release of compounds such as Benzaldehyde or Ethoisoquinoline, which have been known to ward off a wide variety of insect pests.
Ultimately, pungent aromas produced by plants serve as an effective defense against many insect pests. By releasing repellent odors, plants are able to protect themselves from predatory bugs, and enjoy the safety of their environment.
3. Unpleasant Scents: A Bee’s Most Disliked
Bees love flowers—their aroma, pretty colors, and sweet nectar all attract the little winged beaut and magnetically draw them in for a close sniff. But, believe it or not, some scents are just too strong for bees, and they can’t stand them.
1. Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are one of the most common aromas disliked by bees. As most of us are aware, citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and limes pack a strong aroma. Unfortunately, that same aroma isn’t particularly attractive to bees and can even be a bit overwhelming for them.
2. Perfumes
For these gentle little friends of ours, perfumes are an absolute no-go. Most perfumes are made with strong and pungent ingredients that can really hit those sensitive bee noses like a sledgehammer. That’s one of the main reasons why you don’t want to spritz yourself with your favorite perfume before going for a peaceful stroll in the park.
3. Mothballs
Fumigation is a method of pest control, and mothballs are the most common type of fumigant. Unsurprisingly, mothballs can be quite off-putting for bees, and their pungent odor is far from pleasant for these delicate creatures. For that reason, if you ever need to use any kind of fumigant, consider checking in with a beekeeper first.
4. Strong spices
Spices may be a great addition to any dish, but strong smells such as curry and chili powder are not particularly preferred by bees. It goes without saying that bees would much rather stick to sweeter smells like flowers and fruits than be subjected to any strong spices.
4. To Our Detriment: How Bees’ Rejection of Scents Effects Us
Bees are one of nature’s greatest forces, providing us with many gifts of life and sustenance. However, this loyalty is not boundless; bees can be very picky about their selection of flowers and can reject scents that they deem unpleasant.
The implications of these olfactory rejections are considerable. When bees reject certain scents, they also reject the plants that contain them, which can lead to blights and overgrowth in key areas. This, in turn, can lead to a disruption of essential habitats and ecosystems, impeding the growth of essential vegetation and reducing the natural resources available.
Additionally, the many parts of the food web that depend on bees, like other animals and humans, can suffer. To illustrate, let’s look at a single meal that relies heavily on bees:
- Honey: Produced by bees and containing important essential nutrients
- Grapes: pollinated by bees
- Salad Greens: pollinated by bees
When bees reject particular scents, they are also rejecting the essential parts of this meal, reducing our nutritional options and our access to resources in general. The bee’s dejection can thus lead to a negative domino effect, impacting us directly and detrimentally.
5. Insect Response: Bees’ Signals of Dislike
When bees are agitated, they release an attack response in attempts to ward off invaders. A beekeeper should take caution not to get too close and annoy the bees, or risk being stung. Here are five signals of dislike that bees generally display when disturbed:
- Swarming: A swarm of bees is one of the biggest indicators of bees that are disgruntled. It is possible that they’ve outgrown their hive, or just weren’t receiving the adequate attention they require.
- Buzzing: The trademark loud buzzing sound usually symbolizes the bees’ displeasure, and is usually accompanied by a menacing presence and aggressive posture.
- Stinging: This is the bee’s way of protecting itself and its swarm when feeling attacked, so if it feels provoked, it will sting, no matter who the threat is.
- Circling: When the bees start circling around the beekeeper, they usually mean business. This could signal that they’ve been irritated and feel the need to defend their hive.
- Spitting: This is another sign directed at beekeepers when their bee population is becoming distressed. Spitting results from the bees secreting saliva in a show of aggression and hatred.
To avoid being bitten by a bee, it is important to pay attention to the signs of disturbed bees. Take caution if you come across a hive displaying any of these behaviors – it is far better to avoid a situation than to risk being hurt.
6. Not All Smells Are Beautiful: Common Risks
Sometimes, smells are delightful! They can take us back to good memories of home and tasty food. While some smells are pleasant to experience in the moment, others may have long-term effects. Unnoticed, manageable, and perhaps deadly, risks can lurk and even linger in the environment for days, weeks, and even decades.
Chemicals and Pollutants – Chemical pollutants and other pollutants can have a variety of harmful effects. Inhaling chemicals, such as sulfur dioxide and ozone, can cause chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath. Long-term exposure can increase a person’s risk of developing chronic respiratory diseases and cancers.
Mold – Mold has been linked to a range of health problems, from allergies to asthma attacks. Significant exposure to mold can cause respiratory illnesses and even neurological disorders. It is important to eliminate standing water and water damage quickly to avoid the spread of mold.
Carbon Monoxide – Carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless substance, is especially dangerous. Low levels of exposure can cause headaches, fatigue, and loss of consciousness. High levels of exposure are deadly.
- Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
- If there is water damage, fix the problem quickly.
- Take necessary precautions when dealing with chemicals.
Not all smells are beautiful. It is better to err on the side of caution and take steps to mitigate any risks.
7. Unfavorable Reactions: Compounds Bees Hate
When it comes to things that bees hate, there are compounds like soapy water and smoke that can send them packing. However, there are certain substances that have an even worse effect on bees, and can have a highly detrimental impact on a bee’s lifecycle.
The following elements are known to cause harmful, and sometimes fatal, reactions in bees:
- Pesticides – Not only do many varieties of pesticides produce a toxic reaction in bees, but they can also contaminate the food that bees collect and spread to other bees in their hive.
- Herbicides – Herbicides, or plant killers, can not only hurt a bee’s wings, but can also have long-term consequences on their IQ and memory, making them less efficient at foraging.
- Insecticides – These chemicals kill any and all insects, and bees are no exception. High levels of insecticide exposure can stunt a bee’s growth, and in some cases, can even be fatal.
- Fungicides – Fungicides can prevent the growth of fungus, but they can also disrupt a bee’s reproductive system, leading to fertility issues that can greatly reduce their lifespan.
While some of these compounds may not always be present in a bee’s environment, it is still important to be aware of them and the effects they can have. By understanding the compounds that bees hate, gardeners and beekeepers can ensure that they provide a safe and secure environment for bees to thrive.
8. The Smell of Disrespect: What Bees Loathe
Bees are known for their dedication towards their hive and their desire to protect and maintain it. But one behavior of humans which really upsets bees is disrespect. When humans show disregard for the hive and its inhabitants, bees do not take kindly to it.
Loud Talking: When people speak too loudly near a hive or otherwise cause too much of a disturbance, bees become increasingly agitated. It’s important to always be aware of one’s own volume when near a bee hive, as loud conversations can often lead to bees flying around aggressively in defense.
Strong Smells: Strong smells, such as those from perfumes, smoke, paint, and other such odours, can disrupt the peace of the hive. Such smells can confuse the bees, causing them to flee the area, and can even affect the taste of the honey.
Neglectful Treatment: Bees will also become resentful if their hives are treated carelessly. Disregard for the hive, such as destroying it or leaving it to fall into disrepair, will cause bees to swarm aggressively in defense. Other actions such as stealing honey or interrupting a bee’s pollination process will also lead to the wrath of these tiny insects. Here are some other ways bees loathe disrespect:
- Kicking their hives
- Jumping or stomping on them
- Ignoring their hive
- Intimidating bees or other animals in the vicinity
When bees feel violated or disrespected, they will do whatever they need to do in order to protect their hive and themselves. So, it is important to remember to treat all hives respectfully, and to be aware of one’s own volume and behaviour when in their vicinity. That way, bee-human relations remain respectful and peaceful.
As a result of all these unique and interesting nostril mechanisms, it’s clear that we still may have much to learn when it comes to bees and their scents. Whether it’s to deepen our understanding of how their sense of smell works or simply to make sure that we don’t unintentionally repel them, it’s all worth learning!
