When it comes to honey bees, we should do everything we can to preserve their numbers because of their important contribution to nature. After all, bees are pollinators, which is essential for the growth and sustainability of crops and other valuable plant life. Thus, whenever possible, it behooves us to remove bees rather than “kill” or “exterminate” bees. In this article, we’ll discuss the five things bees don’t like that can make them leave the area you would like to be free of bees.

Smoke

Smoke is perhaps among the best ways you can cause honey bees to leave the area. Why? Honey bees have an extraordinary good sense of smell, so much so, that when they detect smoke, it relays to them that there is likely a fire nearby. Additionally, when bees smell smoke emanating from below/within or near a hive, honey bees will prepare to leave their hive because they think it’s on fire. This preparation involves storing as much honey on their bodies as they can before they leave to look for a new place build a new hive. Smoking a hive when done correctly, does not harm the bees.

Citronella

Citronella is an essential oil taken from the leaves and stems a plant called lemongrass. In fact, Citronella is quite an effective insect repellent such that it works on both bees and mosquitos. Bees simply don’t like the smell, so if light a citronella candle near their hive, bees may leave, although this could take days to do so.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon, like Citronella, emits a strong odor that can repels honey bees. So, if you put some cinnamon sticks near a hive located in an area near your home where you’d like to keep bees way from, this can prove to be very effective. Cinnamon also does not harm honey bees at all.

Garlic

Who says garlic is just for repelling vampires? Okay, seriously, now, garlic is another strong-smelling object that seems to be quite effective in driving off honey bees. Placing garlic powder near a hive can be a great deterrent. However, it’s best to avoid having garlic powder in direct contact with honey bees as it could kill them.

Peppermint

Peppermint oil has proven to act as a natural repellent for both wasps and honey bees. That’s because peppermint has a strong scent that bees really don’t like. Some people have used a spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and several drops of peppermint oil to spray on plants or objects that they wish to keep honey bees away from.

If you’d like to know more about natural bee repellents, contact the bee removal professionals at The Beehive, Bee and Wasp Removal today.