When a bee flies close to you, it can be a curious, and sometimes unsettling, experience. Understanding why these insects approach humans can help demystify the encounter and clarify how to respond to their presence.
Why Bees Hover Around People
Not every buzzing insect is a bee. What people perceive as a bee hovering nearby might actually be a wasp, hornet, or a fly that mimics bees for protection. Wasps and hornets have brighter yellow and black markings, a more slender body, and can be more aggressive. Flies that mimic bees, like hoverflies, lack a sting and have shorter antennae and larger eyes.
Bees are drawn to human scents, including perfumes, deodorants, and sweat. “Sweat bees” (Halictidae family) are attracted to the salts and moisture in perspiration as a source of nutrients. These small bees are generally not aggressive and sting only if trapped or threatened. Sugary drinks and food residues also act as powerful attractants, as bees constantly seek nectar and sugar.
Bees react to visual cues, and certain clothing choices can draw their attention. Bright colors and floral patterns can be mistaken for flowers, their primary foraging targets. This visual confusion may cause a bee to approach, believing it has found a food source. The movement of flowing or loose clothing can also create air currents that catch a bee’s interest.
A bee’s proximity can also be due to curiosity or scouting behavior. Male bees, known as drones, do not possess a stinger and focus on mating; they might investigate moving objects. Worker bees may also scout new areas for nectar or pollen, briefly investigating a person as part of their environmental survey.
Defensive behavior is another reason bees might hover, though it is less common for individual bees away from their hive. Worker bees, which are female, are typically only defensive when their nest is directly threatened or if they perceive an immediate danger to themselves, such as being swatted at or trapped. This protective instinct ensures the survival of their colony.
What to Do When Bees Are Near
When a bee approaches, maintaining calm is the most effective response. Sudden movements, such as swatting or flailing, can startle the bee and make it feel threatened, triggering their natural stinging instinct.
If a bee is consistently hovering, slowly and calmly moving away from the area is advisable. A gradual retreat allows the bee to assess the situation without perceiving aggression, giving it space to move on.
To minimize attraction, cover any sweet drinks or food when outdoors. Bees are highly sensitive to the scent of sugars and will readily investigate open containers or spilled items, so keeping food covered can significantly reduce their interest.
Avoid disturbing any bee or wasp nests you might encounter. Nests, whether in the ground, trees, or structures, represent the colony’s home and stored food supply. Approaching or agitating a nest will provoke a strong defensive response from multiple insects, leading to multiple stings.
If a large, aggressive nest is near living areas or high-traffic zones, professional pest control services may be necessary. These specialists have the equipment and knowledge to safely remove or manage the nest without risking harm. This action is typically reserved for situations where the nest poses a direct safety hazard.