While it is understandable to want to keep bees away from outdoor spaces, especially high-traffic areas, this must be balanced with the understanding that they are primary pollinators. The goal is to encourage bees to forage elsewhere, not to eliminate them. Effective deterrence focuses on non-lethal, temporary spray solutions combined with long-term changes to the environment that make an area less appealing. This approach respects their ecological importance while allowing people to use their outdoor areas safely.
DIY Repellent Sprays
Natural, homemade sprays offer a temporary, non-toxic method to deter bees from specific areas. These solutions utilize strong scents that bees find disorienting or unpleasant. Essential oils are a popular base because their powerful aromas can mask the pheromone trails bees use for navigation and communication.
Oil mixtures using peppermint, citronella, clove, or cinnamon are effective deterrents when diluted in water. A typical recipe involves mixing about 10 drops of essential oil per cup of water, with white vinegar or liquid dish soap added to help the oil and water emulsify. Spraying this mixture onto outdoor surfaces can create a scent barrier that encourages bees to fly elsewhere.
A common household spray involves an equal-parts mix of water and distilled white vinegar. The sharp, pungent odor of the vinegar is off-putting to bees, and wiping down outdoor surfaces can temporarily reduce the likelihood of them congregating there. These scent-based deterrents require frequent reapplication, as the volatile oils and vinegar evaporate quickly, reducing their effectiveness.
Soap and water mixtures can also be used as a short-term, localized deterrent, though they should be sprayed directly onto surfaces and not onto the bees themselves. Soap acts as a surfactant, reducing the surface tension of water, which can disrupt the bee’s ability to fly or navigate if they encounter the residue. While concentrated soap mixtures can be lethal upon direct contact, the goal of surface-level application is simply to make an area unappealing for landing.
Preventing Bee Attraction
Long-term bee management involves modifying the environment to eliminate factors that draw bees in, making the area less inviting. Since bees are primarily foraging for food, water, or nesting materials, removing these attractants offers a sustained solution that does not rely on constant spraying. This preventative approach is more successful and less labor-intensive.
Managing food sources is a significant step, as bees are highly attracted to sweet drinks, fruit, and sugary spills. All outdoor food and beverages should be kept covered, and spills cleaned immediately with soap and water to eliminate sticky residues. Garbage and compost bins must be sealed tightly, as fermenting food waste can be a strong attractant for foraging insects.
Bees also seek out sources of water, especially during hot weather, to cool their hives. Standing water in leaky spigots, bird baths, or shallow pet bowls can become a regular gathering point. Addressing these moisture sources, either by fixing leaks or changing the water frequently, can force bees to find hydration elsewhere.
Addressing potential nesting sites discourages long-term residence. Bees often look for sheltered, protected cavities, such as cracks in siding, behind loose fascia boards, or abandoned holes in the ground. Sealing these small entry points with caulk or mesh prevents them from establishing a permanent home in or near a structure.
Understanding When Professional Help Is Needed
While DIY sprays and preventative measures work well for deterring individual foraging bees, they are insufficient when a nest or hive has already been established. Determining the species and the location of the hive is the first step in deciding whether professional intervention is necessary for safety and effective removal. Non-aggressive honey bees and bumblebees are less defensive, but wasps and hornets, which are often mistaken for bees, can be more territorial and aggressive.
When a nest is located inside a wall, a chimney, or any other structural void, professional help is essential. Removing a nest from a structure requires specialized equipment and expertise to prevent structural damage and ensure the entire colony, including the comb and honey, is removed. Residue left behind will attract other insects and future swarms, creating a recurring problem.
For established honey bee colonies, the appropriate professional is a local beekeeper or a humane bee removal specialist, rather than a general exterminator. Beekeepers are trained to safely relocate the bees and the hive without resorting to lethal chemical methods. If the colony is large or poses an immediate threat, or if the insect is identified as an aggressive species like a yellow jacket, a licensed pest control professional can provide a safe solution.