There are nearly 1 million insect species that can be found across the globe, according to the Smithsonian. There are so many creepy crawlers out there that some might be in your backyard, and you might not even know it.
We know about honey bees and bumblebees, but what about sweat bees? These bugs are so small that you might not even notice them buzzing around your house. That is unless you have a sweat bee issue.
Keep reading to find out more about this group of bugs and how to get rid of them.
Sweat bees are a common nuisance during the warmer months. As their name implies, these small bees are attracted to sweat and will frequently land on people to lap up perspiration. While a single sweat bee is generally harmless, having a bunch of them buzzing around you can be annoying and distracting. Luckily, there are some simple steps you can take to get rid of sweat bees and keep them from continually pestering you.
What Are Sweat Bees?
Sweat bees are tiny bees that belong to the Halictidae family There are around 1000 species of sweat bees in North America alone. These bees get their name from their attraction to salt and sweat
Unlike honeybees that live in large hives, sweat bees nest underground. Their nests have small mounds around the entrance that resemble anthills. Sweat bees are solitary bees, with each female building and provisioning her own nest.
While sweat bees don’t produce honey, they are important pollinators. They use their long tongues to drink nectar and gather pollen from flowers. Some common flowers visited by sweat bees include asters goldenrods, sunflowers, and milkweeds.
Do Sweat Bees Sting?
Sweat bees can sting but their stings are not very painful. The stinger of a sweat bee is quite small so the venom sac holds only a minute amount of venom.
People are not often stung by sweat bees. The bees tend to be docile and will simply fly away if swatted at or blown on. However, they may sting if trapped against bare skin. The best way to avoid getting stung is to leave sweat bees alone if they land on you. The minor irritation of having them lap up sweat is better than provoking them to sting.
How to Deter Sweat Bees
Here are some tips to prevent sweat bees from continually pestering you:
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Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that covers your skin when outside. Sweat bees are especially attracted to dark clothing.
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Apply insect repellent containing DEET when spending time outdoors. Reapply frequently if you are sweating a lot.
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Avoid using scented products like perfumes, scented sunscreens, and scented hair products when outdoors. These can also attract bees.
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Take a shower and change clothes after working up a sweat before going back outside. Sweat bees sense sweat.
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Install screens on windows and doors to keep sweat bees from entering your home. Make sure all screens are in good repair with no holes or rips.
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Use electric fans outdoors to disrupt the bees with air currents. Direct the breeze toward gathering areas where sweat bees are problematic.
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Plant flowers that sweat bees don’t visit, like marigolds, zinnias, petunias, and begonias. Avoid planting sunflowers, asters, and other sweat bee favorites.
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Keep your yard free of debris like logs, branches, and leaf litter where bees may nest. Also fill in any holes or bare patches in the soil.
Removing Established Nests
If sweat bees have already set up nests on your property, you may need to take steps to remove their nests. Look for small dirt mounds that resemble anthills and investigate holes or tunnels in sunny areas of bare soil. Some options for sweat bee nest removal include:
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Pouring boiling water directly into the nest entrance. This should kill bees inside the nest. Repeat if new bees return and try to re-establish the nest.
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Inserting a rod or stick into the nest and twisting to destroy tunnels. You can then soak the area in soapy water to deter bees from returning.
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Dusting nest entrances with pesticides labelled for bees or wasps. Always follow label directions carefully.
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Digging up shallow nests after dusk when all foraging bees have returned. Search for white cocoons inside the nest and crush or soak them in soapy water.
Preventing Nest Reestablishment
Once you get rid of active sweat bee nests, you’ll need to take ongoing measures to prevent new nests from popping up:
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Maintain lush, dense landscaping with no bare patches of soil. Grass and groundcover plants make it harder for bees to dig nests.
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Spread mulch or pea gravel over any bare dirt areas. Bees prefer to nest in soil rather than mulch.
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Routinely inspect your yard for small nest start-ups and immediately destroy them before they grow larger. Check dry, sunny areas especially closely.
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Water lawns and gardens regularly. Damp soil is much less attractive to ground-nesting sweat bees.
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Encourage natural predators like birds and parasitic wasps that prey on bees. Avoid killing spiders and other beneficial insects.
With some diligence using these strategies, you can successfully get rid of sweat bees and enjoy your yard again without constantly being pestered. Pay close attention in mid to late summer when sweat bee populations peak. A little prevention work will go a long way towards keeping your property sweat bee-free.
Do sweat bees sting?
Sweat bees do not pose much danger to humans. They are a non-aggressive group of insects.
While they do have stingers, sweat bees often do not sting. Female sweat bees may sting if they are agitated or feel threatened.
According to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, sweat bees have the least painful sting of the stinging insects. If you are stung by a sweat bee, it usually does not cause severe irritation, unless you are allergic to bee venom. In those cases, seek medical attention.
What is a sweat bee?
Sweat bees are not one type of bee. They are a family of small bees, containing over 1,000 species in North America, according to Terminix.
The Halictidae family is the second largest bee family, after the Apidae family. It includes some of the most common bees, like bumblebees and honey bees.
Sweat bees get their nickname due to their affinity for human sweat.
Similar to other bees, these insects get pollen and nectar from flowers and crops, such as sunflowers, wildflowers and stone fruits. But a sweat bees diet also requires salt and moisture, according to Orkin. As a result, these insects will often feed on human sweat.
Sweat bees are smaller in size, ranging from 0. 125 to 0. 5 inches in length, according to Terminix. They are known for their metallic coloring, which is often green with red or yellow stripes. Other species colors include blue, purple, brown or black.
For their habitats, sweat bees live underground and dig holes in soil. They may live in colonies or alone.
How did this work so good! Eliminate wasps and sweat bees the easy way.
FAQ
How do you get rid of sweat bees fast?
Why do I have so many sweat bees around my house?
What are sweat bees attracted to?
Do sweat bees sting or bite you?
How do I get rid of sweat bees?
Contact a company that does live bee removal to get rid of the sweat bees if you’re determined not to have them around your home. Some people suggest killing ground bees with gasoline, but this isn’t a good idea. Not only is gasoline terrible for the environment, but it also creates a giant fire hazard on your property.
How can one reduce sweating?
Hyperhidrosis is a condition in which sweating is frequent and hard to control. Excessive sweating is the main symptom of hyperhidrosis. With treatment, hyperhidrosis can be managed well. A good first line of defense is over-the-counter antiperspirant designed to control excessive sweating. Glycopyrronium is an anticholinergic medicated cloth approved for excessive underarm sweating in people age 9 and older. Some of the lifestyle changes includes; wear loose-fitting clothes to minimise signs of sweating, wear socks that absorb moisture and change your socks at least twice a day if possible, wear leather shoes and try to wear different shoes day to day. You can also talk to your doctor to see if you’re a candidate for Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) injections. In some cases, procedures such as miraDry and endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) may be recommended by your doctor. Iontophoresis is an alternative therapy that may improve symptoms of hyperhidrosis. Acupuncture for hyperhidrosis may also provide positive results in some patients.
How to prevent sweat bee infestations?
Practicing good personal hygiene, wearing protective clothing, and removing sweat-attracting plants from your garden can help prevent sweat bee infestations. Consider professional pest removal services for large swarms or difficult situations. By the way, our site is supported by visitors like you.
How do you keep sweat bees out of your garden?
Turn on some fans outdoors. It’s no secret that sweat bees are fans of humidity and sweaty skin. To keep these bees at bay, some gardening enthusiasts have tried placing a few well-placed fans around their patio or garden—apparently, the flow of moving air keeps the bees from sticking around.
How do you get sweat bees out of a bee trap?
When you get your bee trap, hang it up or set it out near where you see the bees mostly hang out. In the trap, there will be sweet and tasty nectar that will draw the sweat bees to the contraption. The trap is designed to allow bees to easily wander inside through one of the openings, but they won’t be able to fly out again.
How do you get rid of sweat bees in a pool?
Pool covers and moving water are two good ways to keep most insects (and frogs) away, but sweat bees are more interested in you than the water. You can use a repellent spray, but many of these will wash off in water. For this reason, it may be necessary to use a spot killing spray. A simple, yet effective recipe is as follows: