When a buzzing insect approaches, it often sparks curiosity or concern. Bees coming close to people is typically a harmless interaction. Understanding why bees approach can alleviate apprehension and promote a more informed response to these important pollinators.
Reasons Bees Are Drawn to You
Bees are often attracted to individuals due to sensory cues related to their foraging. Scents play a significant role; perfumes, scented lotions, hair products, and even laundry detergents can mimic the floral aromas bees seek for nectar and pollen. Specific floral essences like jasmine, rose, or lavender are attractive, as are sweet and fruity notes such as vanilla or citrus. However, certain scents like banana can resemble alarm pheromones, potentially agitating them.
Visual cues also draw bees closer. Bright colors, especially yellow and white, and floral patterns can make a person appear like a large flower. Bumblebees are also attracted to blue hues. Bees are drawn to sweet drinks and foods, such as sugary beverages, fruit, or picnic items, as they seek sugar for energy. Sometimes, a bee’s approach is simply curiosity or a search for water.
Identifying Your Flying Visitor
Distinguishing between flying insects is key to understanding their behavior. Bees generally possess rounder, fuller bodies covered in fuzzy hairs, essential for collecting pollen. Wasps, in contrast, typically have more slender, smooth, shiny bodies with a distinct narrow “waist”. Their legs often dangle noticeably in flight.
Honey bees are recognized by their fuzzy, wider bodies. Bumblebees are larger, very fuzzy, and have plump, rounded forms, frequently nesting underground. Solitary bees, a large portion of bee species, vary greatly; some are nearly hairless and might be mistaken for wasps. Bees are primarily herbivores, consuming nectar and pollen, making them crucial pollinators. Wasps are more predatory, feeding on other insects, but also scavenge for sugary substances.
Another distinguishing feature lies in their nest construction. Honey bees build wax hives with honeycomb structures, often found in tree hollows or sheltered cavities. Wasps, conversely, construct paper-like nests using chewed wood fibers and saliva, seen hanging from eaves or branches, or sometimes underground, as with yellowjackets.
When Bees Sting and Why
Bees primarily sting as a defensive mechanism, to protect themselves or their hive. A foraging bee, away from its nest, rarely stings unless directly threatened, such as being stepped on or roughly handled. Bees are generally not aggressive and focus on their tasks.
Stinging behavior varies among bee types. A honey bee worker has a barbed stinger that typically embeds in mammal skin, tearing away from the bee’s abdomen and leading to its death. When a honey bee stings, it also releases an alarm pheromone that can alert other bees, drawing them to the perceived threat.
Bumblebees and most solitary bees have smoother stingers, allowing them to sting multiple times. Bumblebees are generally peaceful and less likely to sting than honey bees or wasps, usually only doing so if their nest is disturbed or accidentally squeezed. Wasps, with their smooth stingers, are capable of stinging repeatedly and can be more aggressive, sometimes stinging without apparent provocation.
Interacting Safely with Bees
When a bee comes near, remain calm and avoid sudden movements. Swatting at a bee can be perceived as a threat and may provoke it to sting. If a bee is flying around you, slowly and calmly walk away.
Should a bee land on you, stay still and allow it to leave. A gentle puff of air can sometimes encourage it to fly away.
To minimize attracting bees, avoid bright colors, especially yellow, and floral patterns in clothing. Also, refrain from using strong perfumes, scented lotions, or hair products that mimic floral scents. Keep food and sweet beverages covered outdoors to reduce their attraction. If you encounter a bee hive or nest, maintain a respectful distance, as disturbing it can trigger a defensive response.