The earth needs bees—but you personally don’t need them at your picnic. If you’re interested in protecting our pollinators but also in keeping them at a little distance from your person, home, and snacks, there are a number of tricks for non-lethal bee control.
- Light a citronella candle. Citronella is a popular ingredient in many insect repellents, and it also works well for non-lethal bee control. If you know you’ll be outside for a while in an area the bees like to frequent, simply light a citronella candle and keep it nearby.
- Mix up a garlic spray. Garlic has a pungent scent, and mixing a little with water makes another excellent non-lethal bee repellent. Use the spray on areas where you don’t want bees, but don’t spray the bees themselves. Spraying bees can be harmful for them, and they can become aggressive if they feel their hive is under attack. As always, keep the bees at a safe distance!
- Get creative with essential oils. If you’re not fond of the smell of garlic, essential oils could be a better non-lethal bee control choice for you. Peppermint, lavender, cedarwood, and rosemary oils are all known for their more pleasant scents. Essential oils can be diffused to give a wide, bee-free area a pleasant smell, or they can be mixed with a carrier oil to create a simple, bee-safe bug spray.
- Show some love for your landscaping. Although bees are a common sight in most gardens, some plants act as natural bee repellants. Peppermint and lavender, which also are used to create bee-repelling essential oils, can be grown around your yard for a bee-free zone. If you’re in the mood for flashier flowers, marigolds and geraniums can also serve the same purpose.
In the event that you have more than a few stray bees invading your picnic, don’t worry about calling in professional help. Here at BeeMan Stan Bee Removal, we prioritize non-lethal bee control and live bee removal, so you can rest assured your bees will be safely relocated to a new and happier home.