Bees play a considerable role in ecosystems, primarily as pollinators. Understanding what bees tend to avoid or find unpleasant can help people coexist with them, especially in outdoor settings where gentle deterrence might be desired. This understanding focuses on natural aversions, not methods that could harm these important insects.
Sensory Aversions
Bees possess a highly developed sense of smell, which is crucial for locating flowers and communicating within their colonies. Strong, non-floral odors can interfere with their ability to detect important floral scents, making an area undesirable for them. For instance, essential oils like peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus, and clove contain potent aromatic compounds bees find overwhelming. The pungent aroma of garlic is another scent that bees dislike. Strong human perfumes, colognes, or scented lotions can also be off-putting, as these artificial fragrances can mask natural cues or are too intense.
Beyond scent, bees react to visual cues and movement. They perceive a different color spectrum than humans, seeing blue, green, and ultraviolet light, but not red, which appears black. Dark colors, such as black, brown, and deep red, are perceived as a threat, resembling natural predators like bears or skunks. This can trigger a defensive response, which is why beekeepers often wear white or light-colored clothing. Rapid, erratic movements also startle bees, as their compound eyes are sensitive to motion and process movement five times faster than human eyes.
Bees are sensitive to vibrations, which they use for communication within the hive. While they do not “hear” in the human sense, loud, sudden noises or vibrations disturb them. Sounds with high decibel levels or frequencies outside their typical communication range disorient or stress them. This sensitivity means prolonged or intense disturbances make an area less appealing to bees.
Plant-Based Deterrents
Certain plants naturally produce strong aromatic compounds that deter bees from an area. These plants contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that bees find unpleasant or that mask desirable flower scents. Mint varieties like peppermint and spearmint have strong aromas bees avoid, interfering with their ability to locate nectar.
Citronella grass is known for its lemon-like fragrance, deterring various insects, including bees; its essential oil is used in candles and sprays. Marigolds, with their pungent smell, are effective in deterring bees. While some sources suggest they might not deter honeybees seeking nectar, their strong chemical compounds make them unappealing. Basil, a common culinary herb, also emits a strong fragrance bees and wasps dislike. These plants can be placed around outdoor living spaces or garden edges to encourage bees to forage elsewhere.
Human Behaviors to Avoid
Human actions influence how bees react to their presence. Understanding these behaviors prevents bees from feeling threatened or agitated. Sudden, jerky movements, such as swatting or flailing arms, are perceived as a direct threat. Such actions trigger their defensive instincts, leading to a sting. Maintaining calm, slow movements around bees is advisable.
Wearing strong scents, including perfumes, colognes, or lotions, is problematic. These artificial fragrances can be disorienting.
Inadvertently blocking a bee’s flight path or hive entrance causes distress and prompts a defensive reaction. Bees have established routes to and from their homes and foraging areas. Obstructing these paths, even unintentionally, makes them feel trapped or threatened. Directly disturbing a hive or nest, or engaging in aggressive behavior towards individual bees, provokes a defensive response. Bees protect their colony and resources, and actions perceived as an attack lead to defense.