The question “Can I use wasp spray on a honey bee?” comes up a lot when people want to save money by getting rid of pests themselves. In addition to the obvious reason as why this is a bad idea below are a few more.
Honey bees can be beneficial pollinators, but they also pose a risk with their ability to sting. If a swarm decides to make a hive on your property, honey bee killer sprays allow you to remove them in the safest and most effective way possible. I’ve tested and reviewed the top options to help you make the right choice.
What Are Honey Bees?
Honey bees are social, flying insects that live in large colonies with queens, drones, and workers. There are seven recognized species, with the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) being the most common in North America.
Honey bees play an important role as pollinators for many agricultural crops. Their hive produces honey and beeswax that we harvest. But if a colony sets up on your property, those benefits are outweighed by the safety risk their stingers pose.
That’s where honey bee killer sprays come in. When applied correctly, they can eliminate a problematic hive quickly and safely.
How Do Honey Bee Killer Sprays Work?
Most honey bee sprays use synthetic pyrethroids like permethrin as the active ingredient. Pyrethroids overstimulate the bee’s nervous system on contact, leading to paralysis and death.
The sprays come in pressurized cans that can shoot 10-20 feet, This allows you to kill the bees from a safe distance Spraying at night also improves effectiveness since most of the colony will be in the hive resting
I do not recommend attempting to kill an active, flying swarm. Call a professional exterminator if you have an aggressive hive during the day. The sprays are best for nest cleanup at night once activity has died down.
Top 3 Honey Bee Killer Spray Reviews
After evaluating dozens of products these rose above as the most effective honey bee sprays
1. Spectracide Wasp and Hornet Killer
- Kills on contact and has residual action for up to 4 weeks
- Foaming action helps reach nests in cracks and crevices
- Good for indoor and outdoor use
- Up to 27 foot spray range
Spectracide is my top choice for honey bee sprays. The active ingredients (tetramethrin and permethrin) provide instant knockdown and continued residual killing power. I’ve found the foam to work better than liquid sprays at penetrating nests. It also won’t damage plants or surfaces.
2. Ortho Home Defense Bee and Wasp Killer
- Sprays up to 10 feet to keep you at a safe distance
- Kills hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets too
- Low odor formula
- Up to 12 week residual
Ortho Home Defense is another permethrin-based spray that excels at killing honey bees. The 10 foot spray range gives flexibility in targeting nests without getting too close. I like the low odor formula that doesn’t have an overwhelming chemical smell after application.
3. Hot Shot Wasp and Hornet Killer
- Jet spray reaches up to 20 feet
- Foaming action gets deep into nests
- Also kills wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets
- Has an anti-clog tip for optimal spraying
Hot Shot is the brand name that first comes to mind for wasp and bee sprays. Their foaming jet spray formulation paired with the 20 foot range makes nest treatment safer and easier. The price is also very affordable. Just know it does have more odor than some other options.
When and How To Apply Honey Bee Killer Sprays
For best results, only use honey bee sprays at night when hive activity has ceased. Here are some tips for safe and effective application:
- Wear protective clothing like a hat, glasses, gloves, and mask
- Locate the nest entrance during daytime observation
- Approach quietly at night and do not shine bright lights at the hive
- Aim spray nozzle at nest entrance or holes where bees are emerging
- Spray until nest is saturated but not to the point of dripping
- Retreat if any activity is seen 2-3 days later
Start spraying from several feet back and move closer while treating. Try to avoid excessive pooling of the product since bees can detect this and avoid the area.
Only direct sprays at nests on your property to minimize off-target effects. Never spray flying bee swarms. Seek professional removal if you have an aggressive daytime hive.
Natural Honey Bee Sprays
If you want to avoid synthetic pyrethroids, there are some natural honey bee sprays that use plant-derived ingredients:
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Essential oils – Peppermint, eucalyptus, thyme, lemongrass, and clove oils can repel and kill honey bees. Mix with water and spray.
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Insecticidal soaps – Potassium salts of fatty acids break down bee exoskeletons. Spray soaps directly on bees for contact killing.
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Diatomaceous earth – The sharp silica in DE damages the waxy coating on bee bodies, leading to dehydration. Apply dust near nests.
However, these natural options don’t provide the same level of effectiveness or convenience as the pyrethroid sprays. They require more frequent reapplication and have a shorter range.
When To Call A Professional Exterminator
If you have an active hive with bees flying during the day, do not attempt do-it-yourself spraying. Call a professional pest control company. Qualified exterminators have specialized equipment and knowledge for safely removing aggressive hives.
Signs you should leave it to the pros:
- Bees actively entering and leaving the nest during daytime
- Evidence of multiple entrance holes to a large hive
- Failed DIY attempts to eliminate the colony
- Allergic reactions to stings experienced by you or others
Removing established hives often requires excavating nesting sites in walls or ceilings. Attempting this without proper training and gear is dangerous.
Honey bee killer sprays provide an effective DIY method for getting rid of hives located on your property. They are designed to be applied at night when activity around the nest has ceased. This allows treatment without aggravating the bees and prompting aggressive defense.
Just make sure to always use caution, wear protective clothing, and avoid spraying flying swarms. If you follow the safety precautions and technique outlined here, honey bee killer sprays can help resolve infestations while minimizing risks.
Best Bee Killer Spray To Stops Bees Instantly – Top Repellents
FAQ
What is the best insecticide for honey bees?
What kills honey bees the most?
Does WD-40 kill honey bees?
Does spray kill bees?
The spray comes out as a foam that can sink into ground tunnels and hives, killing bees in contact. One of the benefits of this product is that it comes with an extension tube to reach deeper into ground bee tunnels. The spray and foam do not hurt grass or shrubs and should also work on wasps and yellow jackets.
What is the cream to be put on bee sting?
One can apply aloe vera gel, hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion to ease the redness, itching, and swelling caused by a bee sting. If itching or swelling is not better, then one can take an oral antihistamine that contains diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine.
What is the best ground bee killer?
The Bonide 363 Spider and Ground Bee Killer is one of the more affordable ground bee killers on the market. You get two bottle containers of 10oz each, which should be enough to treat a small to medium-sized property. The formula is based on Permethrin, found in a concentration of .25%.
Can I use a bee killer for carpenter bees?
If you’re looking for an environmentally-safe solution to dealing with bees, wasps, and hornets, then this may be the one for you. While it may not be the fastest or most potent bee killer, it is one of the most convenient to use. And, even if used outdoors, it will provide some residual control. I do not recommend it for targeting carpenter bees.
Does soapy water kill bees?
However, soapy water can infiltrate these spiracles, leading to instant death for bees, as they attempt to breathe in the liquid—a fatal error for air-breathing creatures. The bee must be completely coated with soapy water to ensure it works. This method is also effective against wasps.
Does vinegar kill bees?
It’s important to note that vinegar will not work as a bee killer. Though totted as a natural bee repellent, it’s simply not true, according to the Honey Bee Suite. He writes that bees are accustomed to acidic environments and that household vinegar, with a solution of 5% acetic acid with an average PH of 2.5, isn’t enough to kill bees.