Borax, scientifically known as sodium tetraborate, is a naturally occurring mineral compound often used in household cleaning and as a mild pesticide. Borax is toxic and lethal to bees and other insects if they ingest it. Its use in common pest control applications poses a significant threat to foraging bees and the health of their entire colony. Understanding how borax works and how bees encounter it is the first step in protecting these pollinators.
The Mechanism of Borax Toxicity in Bees
Borax functions primarily as a stomach poison, meaning it must be consumed to be effective. Once ingested, the compound interferes with the bee’s internal metabolic processes. Boron, the active component, disrupts the insect’s ability to absorb and process nutrients, essentially starving the insect.
This metabolic interference prevents the bee’s cells from producing the necessary energy to sustain life. Borax also causes an electrolyte imbalance, which impairs the function of the digestive and nervous systems. Unlike insecticides that kill instantly, borax is a slow-acting poison, allowing the exposed bee time to return to its hive.
While ingestion is the main route of toxicity, borax powder can also cause physical harm. The fine particles can be abrasive to the insect’s delicate outer covering, or exoskeleton, potentially leading to desiccation.
Common Scenarios Leading to Bee Exposure
The most frequent scenario involves sweet bait stations intended for controlling ants. Borax is commonly mixed with sugar water, honey, or syrup to create a lethal liquid bait. Foraging bees, which collect nectar and sugary liquids, are also attracted to this sweet mixture.
A foraging bee that consumes the borax-laced bait is not immediately incapacitated and can carry the contaminated liquid back to the hive. Once inside the colony, the poisoned sugar water is shared with nurse bees, the queen, and developing larvae, a process known as trophallaxis. This collective ingestion of the toxin can lead to the collapse of the entire bee colony, including the next generation.
Another common vector of exposure is the application of borax dust near foraging areas. If borax powder is spread near flowering plants, dust particles adhere to the bees’ bodies and mix with pollen. This contaminated pollen is carried back to the hive, poisoning the brood and adult bees.
Bees also require water and may encounter borax that has leached into puddles or other accessible water sources near areas of application. This leads to accidental ingestion and colony contamination.
Bee-Safe Methods for Pest Management
Protecting pollinators requires shifting pest control efforts away from toxins like borax. For managing common household pests such as ants, non-toxic physical barriers are highly effective and safe for bees. Diatomaceous earth (DE), a fine powder composed of fossilized algae, can be used strategically to create barriers, as it kills crawling insects by physical dehydration.
When using DE, it should be applied to ant trails and entry points away from flowering plants and hive entrances to minimize risk. Another simple, bee-safe barrier involves placing hive stands in shallow containers of water mixed with soap, creating an “ant moat” that prevents access.
For dealing with unwanted bee swarms or established colonies, the method should prioritize relocation over eradication. Local beekeepers or specialized bee removal services can humanely capture and relocate swarms or colonies found in walls or trees at no or low cost. Swarms are temporary clusters of bees looking for a new home, and choosing relocation ensures the survival of the bees and prevents the spread of pesticides into the environment.