Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a popular natural household remedy used for cleaning and personal wellness. Its low cost and natural composition lead many to consider it a safe, homemade solution for managing stinging insect pests. This raises the question of whether this common pantry item can be deployed as an insecticide to kill bees. The answer depends heavily on how the ACV is used and which specific insect is targeted.
The Lethality of Apple Cider Vinegar to Bees
The direct lethality of apple cider vinegar to bees is low, especially when applied as a spray. Commercial ACV is typically a solution of about 5% acetic acid, resulting in a pH between 2 and 3. While acidic, this solution is not sufficiently caustic to immediately compromise the exoskeleton of a bee. Many insects, including honeybees, naturally encounter and consume acidic substances; their primary food source, honey, has a naturally acidic pH ranging from 3.4 to 6.1.
A spray’s lethality is often based on osmotic stress or disruption of the respiratory system. For a diluted ACV spray to be effective, it would need to clog the spiracles or cause significant dehydration. Beekeepers sometimes add diluted ACV to sugar syrup to prevent mold growth, demonstrating that the substance is not inherently harmful to the bees’ health. When a bee dies after contact with ACV, it is typically due to drowning or exhaustion in a high concentration solution, not the direct chemical action of the acid.
How ACV Functions in Insect Traps
Apple cider vinegar’s primary function in pest control is as an attractant lure in simple insect traps. The fermentation process used to create ACV produces a pungent scent dominated by acetic acid and residual sugars. This aroma mimics the smell of rotting fruit or fermenting plant sap, which is a strong draw for certain types of nuisance insects.
The lure draws the insect into a container from which it cannot escape. The killing mechanism is typically not the ACV itself, but rather drowning in the liquid, which often contains dish soap to break the surface tension. The soap ensures that the insect, once landing on the surface, sinks quickly and cannot fly away. This fermentation scent attracts insects with a specific dietary preference, meaning ACV is not an indiscriminate killer of all stinging insects.
Why Distinguishing Bees from Wasps Matters
Confusion about ACV’s effectiveness often stems from misidentifying the insect caught in the trap. The fermented, vinegary scent is highly attractive to common nuisance pests like yellow jackets and hornets, which are types of wasps. These insects are often predatory and scavengers, seeking out protein for their larvae and fermented sugars in late summer.
Bees, such as honeybees and bumblebees, have different dietary needs and are far less attracted to the sour, fermented smell of ACV. When ACV is used in a trap, it functions as a selective deterrent that draws in wasps while leaving beneficial honeybees alone. Wasps are physically characterized by a smooth, slender body and a pinched “waist.” Bees are generally hairier, stockier, and focused on collecting nectar and pollen for their colonies. This distinction is crucial because of the ecological importance of bees as primary pollinators.
Humane Methods for Bee Relocation
Given the significant role bees play in pollination and agriculture, non-lethal methods are strongly preferred when dealing with a hive or swarm. The most effective humane solution is to contact a local beekeeper or a specialized humane bee removal service. These professionals use techniques like smoke to calm the colony and specialized vacuum chambers or bee boxes to safely collect and relocate the hive to a managed apiary. This approach ensures the survival of the colony without the use of harmful pesticides.
For individual, exhausted bees, a simple remedy is to offer a mixture of sugar and water, which provides a quick energy boost. To deter bees from a specific area, non-toxic deterrents can be used to encourage them to nest elsewhere. Scents that bees dislike, such as a gentle smoke, or natural sprays made from essential oils like peppermint or citrus, can be applied to surfaces to encourage the insects to relocate without causing them harm.