While many of us enjoy eating outdoors, it just so happens that bees will sometimes invite themselves to these outdoor festivities. This can be unpleasant for us if they fly around our personal space or land on food and drinks. However, there are a few methods that can be taken to prevent attracting any bees and, thus, improve the overall picnic experience. Bee and wasp removal experts are here to share their best tips.
Deciding on a Location
One thing to consider, before getting into bee repellents, is choosing an optimal spot to set up your eating area. Bees are attracted to strong scents, so sitting away from trash cans would be wise. Bees will likely be around wastebaskets due to the various sweet-smelling items that may be in there. Also, if you notice any bees that are flying back and forth from a specific area, there may be a bee nest somewhere in the vicinity, so it’s best not to set up near that spot.
Making Your Location a Repellent
Now that you’ve chosen your location, we can get into different methods that will keep those bees away from your picnic area.
- Keep some cucumbers nearby. Cucumbers are perfect for the summer as they keep you refreshed and go well with salads. This vegetable is also good at keeping bees away because bees aren’t fond of the acidity the cucumber peel has. Placing the peels around your area will help bees and other insects stay away from your food.
- Make a pretend hive. Another method is to place fake hives around your dining area. Bees are naturally territorial so they will usually steer clear of what they believe are enemy hives to avoid being attacked. Blowing up brown paper bags and hanging them around your location will help keep bees away.
- Sprinkle some cloves. Cloves are also another excellent deterrent for those black and yellow insects. Bees hate the warm and spicy smell of cloves, so putting a few of them around your eating location can be very beneficial.
- Use fabric softener. Don’t you love the smell of fabric softener? Well, bees hate it and will stay far away from it. Stick a dryer sheet in your pocket, in your bag, around the table, or under containers that are holding food. You can even rub one on your skin if you want extra protection.
Additional Things to Consider
Remember that bees are attracted to flowers, so avoiding the use of bright and floral prints on plates, napkins, and table covers would be wise. According to bee and wasp exterminators, there are even some colors that can naturally provoke them. Dark colors like red and black are perceived as aggressive predators so they will be more agitated and defensive towards you. Sticking to white or pale colors would be the best choice. Your smell could also be a factor in whether or not bees give you a visit. Avoiding perfumes that smell like flowers will help keep bees away.
Whenever you plan on dining outside, be sure to follow these tips from bee and wasp removal professionals like The Bee Man. These will help you have a better outdoor experience with less unwanted flying guests around. Bon appétit!
FAQs
Don't you love the smell of fabric softener? Well, bees hate it and will stay far away from it. Stick a dryer sheet in your pocket, in your bag, around the table, or under containers that are holding food. You can even rub one on your skin if you want extra protection.
How do you keep bees and wasps away when eating outside? ›
Make a Natural Wasp Repellent with Citrus
Slice the lemon in half cross-wise and stick a bunch of cloves into the exposed flesh. Then, set the lemon halves on a dish wherever you want to keep wasps and bees away. Goodbye, pests! While wasps might hate the scent of citrus and cloves, it's certainly pleasant for humans.
How do you keep bees away from you when you're outside? ›
Avoid bee attention by wearing unscented products. Use an insect repellent to mask the scents. Natural repellents use citrus, mint, and eucalyptus oils. Dryer sheets also make effective insect repellents: tuck one in your pocket if you're hiking or place a few under your picnic blanket.
What repels bees instantly? ›
Citronella plants and oils can be used to deter bees so it makes sense that burning citronella candles would also work. These candles are easy to use and can be found at most grocery or hardware stores. They are effective against bees, wasps, and mosquitoes and work up to a certain range.
What smell do bees hate? ›
Deterring scents
While scent is the easiest way to attract these unwanted guests, it's also the easiest deterrent! Simply incorporate scents that humans find pleasant and bees find repulsive. Some of these off-putting fragrances are peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus, and thyme.
Is there anything that repels bees and wasps? ›
Peppermint oil on its own has been shown to act as a natural repellent for wasps and bees, or you can use a combination of clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils as a natural pest control method.
How do you keep wasps away from you when you're outside? ›
How to get rid of wasps safely – stop them coming back to ensure outdoor dining is peaceful
- Grow strong scented plants. ...
- Avoid bright colours in the garden. ...
- Keep your food and drinks covered. ...
- Scatter peppermint oil. ...
- Distract them with something sweet. ...
- Burn citronella candles. ...
- Avoid leaving the outside lights on.
To repel bees, use pungent scents and neutral colors. Vinegar repels bees and is easy to spray around outdoor areas of your home that are close to bees. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle to make a vinegar repellent.
What naturally makes bees go away? ›
Vinegar is a great solution for deterring bees. Unlike chemical deterrents, vinegar doesn't contain any harsh substances, and it doesn't harm most plants.
What smell do wasps hate? ›
Wasps have a strong sense of smell and dislike certain plants like peppermint, spearmint, basil, eucalyptus, cloves, geranium, thyme, citronella, bay leaves, and lemongrass. They are also repelled by vinegar, cinnamon, coffee grounds, and sliced cucumber.
If you're looking to keep bees away from your house, there are a number of plants that will repel these insects. These plants include neem, mint, citronella, eucalyptus, cloves, wormwood, geraniums, basil, cucumber, marigolds, and pennyroyal.
What colors do bees hate? ›
As mentioned before, those colors include pale or light shades. For best results, wear white. This lack of color will typically make bees and wasps leave you alone. In fact, the next time you see a beekeeper, you'll know exactly why the outfit is white.
How often do you need to spray peppermint oil to keep wasps away? ›
Create a Peppermint Oil Spray: Mix 10-15 drops of peppermint oil with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients and spray the solution around the perimeter of your home and garden. Reapply the spray every few days to keep wasps away.
Does vinegar keep bees away? ›
Use Vinegar to Ward the Bees Off
Vinegar is the perfect repellent to keep nuisance bugs at bay– as long as you can stand the stench! Carpenter bees similarly avoid the strong smell. If you've noticed carpenter bees hovering around your home or railings, try spritzing a water and vinegar solution around the area.
What smell gets rid of bees and wasps? ›
Citrus - Citrus fruits like lemons and oranges can help deter wasps around your yard. Peppermint oil - Peppermint oil is one of the most effective essential oils for keeping wasps away. Citronella - Citronella oil is also effective, as it has a strong citrus smell that wasps do not like.
How to keep yellow jackets away while eating outside? ›
If you do plan on eating outside, try placing slices of cucumber around your yard. This might sound strange, but cucumbers actually serve as a yellow jacket repellent. Placing cucumber slices around your deck or picnic area will help keep yellow jackets at bay.
What keeps bees and wasps away from porch? ›
Plant Wasp-repelling Herbs and Flowers
Certain strong-smelling plants naturally repel wasps. Consider incorporating these plants into your porch landscaping to discourage wasps from approaching. Mint, basil, thyme, and lemongrass emit scents that repel wasps.
What naturally repels bees? ›
The scent of the following plants are strong natural repellents for bees and/or wasps:
- Basil.
- Citronella.
- Geraniums.
- Marigolds.
- Peppermint.
- Spearmint.
- Thyme.
- Wormwood.
Certain scents — like peppermint, glove geranium and lemongrass — are proven to repel wasps. Mix several drops of each oil with water and dish soap in a spray bottle and coat areas on the outside of your home where wasps like to build nests: under eaves, porch roofs and other ledges and crevices.
