Bees and wasps play an important role in the ecosystem by pollinating plants and controlling pest populations However, they can become a nuisance when they build nests or hives too close to your home Getting stung is painful and some people are highly allergic to bee and wasp venom. Fortunately, there are several scents that you can use to repel bees and wasps to keep them away from your house.
Why Bees and Wasps Can Be a Problem
Honeybees, bumblebees, yellowjackets, hornets and paper wasps are the most common stinging insects that homeowners encounter. While they are beneficial in nature, they can cause issues when their nests are located too close to your house.
Some of the problems caused by bees and wasps include
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Getting stung when you accidentally disturb a nest. Stings are painful and repeated stings could cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.
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Structural damage if a hive or nest is built inside walls, attics or soffits. Bees and wasps chew wood to expand their nests which can compromise structures over time.
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attract bears or skunks that try to eat the larvae from bee nests. These wildlife pests can damage your property in the process.
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Annoying buzzing as they fly around your outdoor living spaces. This makes it hard to relax and enjoy your yard.
Scents That Deter Bees and Wasps
Bees and wasps rely heavily on their sense of smell to find food sources and detect threats. Several strong scents can overwhelm their odor receptors and act as repellents. Using these scents around your home encourages bees and wasps to look elsewhere to build their nests.
Essential Oils
Many essential oils have strong odors that bees and wasps dislike. Some of the most effective options include:
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Citronella oil – This lemon-scented oil is commonly used in candles, sprays and torches to repel mosquitoes. The strong citrusy aroma also deters bees and wasps.
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Clove oil – The potent, spicy odor of clove oil overwhelms bees and wasps. It’s often used as a natural bee repellent.
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Eucalyptus oil – This minty, medicinal smelling oil repels bees, wasps and other flying insects.
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Peppermint oil – The menthol in peppermint oil confuses bees’ sense of smell. Both bees and wasps avoid this strong minty scent.
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Geranium oil – This sweet floral scent discourages bees and wasps from sticking around. It’s less irritating to humans than other oils.
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Rosemary oil – This herbaceous, pine-like scent drives away bees, wasps and other pollinators from the area.
Ways to use these essential oils as repellents include:
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Adding several drops to a spray bottle filled with water and spraying around door and window frames.
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Soaking cotton balls with the oils and leaving them around doorways, soffits and other bee or wasp entry points.
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Using a diffuser or oil burner to spread the scent over a larger area.
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Planting scented herbs like peppermint, rosemary, lavender or geranium around your yard.
Other Smelly Repellents
Along with essential oils, some other stinky substances can help deter bees and wasps:
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Smoke – Bees and wasps cannot sense smell through smoke. Lighting citronella candles, tiki torches or having a campfire generates smoke they dislike.
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Moth balls – The odor of moth balls containing paradichlorobenzene overwhelms bees and wasps. Place them around nests or entry points. Avoid inhaling the fumes yourself.
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Vinegar – Vinegar’s acrid odor repels bees and wasps on contact. Spray it around nests or dilute with water to spray over a wider area. It helps mask scents they follow.
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Cinnamon – The strong, spicy aroma of cinnamon confuses bees and wasps so they avoid areas where it’s spread. Sprinkle powder or use cinnamon sticks.
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Citrus peels – The oils in lemon, orange and grapefruit peels give off scents that bees and wasps dislike. Scatter peels around your yard and entryways.
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Garlic – Crushed garlic cloves or garlic powder have a potent odor that drives away bees and wasps when sprinkled around nests or entry points.
When to Call a Professional
Repellent scents can discourage bees and wasps from colonizing around your home. However, if you already have an active hive or nest, it’s best to have it removed by a professional.
Trying to destroy a nest yourself risks getting swarmed and repeatedly stung. Pest control experts have protective gear and use non-toxic methods to safely eliminate nests. They can also properly seal up entry points in your home to prevent future infestations.
Signs that it’s time to call in the pros include:
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You spot a hive inside your walls, attic or soffits.
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There are multiple nests on your property.
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Bees or wasps swarm when you approach the nest.
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Someone gets stung by them around your home.
Using smelly repellents is an easy, natural way to discourage bees and wasps from colonizing too close for comfort. But once an infestation has moved in, don’t hesitate to contact a pest professional right away to get rid of it safely and effectively.
Patch up Cracks & Make Repairs
It’s even worse to find wasps or bees inside your home than in your yard. The best way to keep these pests out of your home is to stop them from getting in in the first place. Fill in small cracks in your home with waterproof caulk and fix or replace any holes in your window screens. This way of getting rid of pests works best in the winter or early spring, before wasps start to fly around. You can make your own bee repellent with essential oils or soap and water and spray it on the area where wasps and bees nest for extra protection.
How to Get Rid of Bees & Wasps
Wildlife like bees, wasps, and other stinging insects is important for the ecosystem to work, but that doesn’t mean you want them near your home! If anyone in your family is allergic to bee and wasp stings, you should do your own pest control to keep them away from you and your family.
Here are some products and techniques you can use as bee and wasp repellents:
There are several essential oils you can use to safely and effectively repel wasps. It has been shown that peppermint oil alone can keep wasps and bees away. You can also use clove, geranium, and lemongrass essential oils together to get rid of pests naturally. To use these oils correctly, mix a few drops with water and dish soap, then put the mixture in a spray bottle. Cover the outside of your home where wasps are likely to nest, like under eaves, porch roofs, and other ledges and cracks. ).
If a wasp and bee repellent is your first choice, setting out a wasp trap is an age-old method that is inexpensive and effective. These traps work by luring in the wasps/bees with a tempting substance, like sugar water, and preventing them from making their way back out. You can make a trap yourself by cutting the top off a two-liter bottle and inserting it inside the bottom, or you can purchase some online or from your local home and garden retailer.
You don’t have to spend more money on pest control than you already do. Soap and water are two things you probably already have in your home that will keep wasps away. This classic mix makes a wasp repellent that blocks wasps’ breathing holes, killing them almost instantly. Put two tablespoons of dish soap into a spray bottle with water. Spray any nests you see at or near them. (Be careful to not get stung, though!).
It’s true! If you plant citronella, thyme, or eucalyptus (or all three!) in your yard, wasps will naturally be less likely to stay there. Plus, not only do these plants repel wasps, they add quite a bit of beauty to your yard.
What smells do bees hate?
FAQ
What smell do wasps and bees hate?
What naturally keeps bees and wasps away?
What scents make bees go away?
What do yellow jackets hate the most?
What scents keep bees away?
Whether your reason for staying bee-free is for your personal safety, or for the safety of your home and garden, these scents can help you achieve your desired result. Essential Oils – Essential oils such as Lemongrass, Grapefruit, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Citronella are safe and natural options for keeping bees away.
What scents do bees hate?
You can use this trait to your advantage by utilizing scents that bees hate such as lemon and lime juice, citronella, cinnamon, peppermint, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, almond oil, smoke, and vinegar. Before we explore the scents that bees hate, it’s wise to understand why you should deter bees away from your house.
What smells do wasps & bees hate?
Citronella: Citronella is another scent that wasps and bees hate. You can find citronella candles and torches at most home improvement stores. Eucalyptus: The strong scent of eucalyptus oil is another effective way to keep wasps and bees away from your backyard. Vinegar: Wasps and bees also dislike the smell of vinegar.
Does citrus essential oil repel bees and wasps?
Any citrus essential oil such as orange, grapefruit or lemon works as a safe deterrent for bees and wasps. These oils produce a potent smell that bees and wasps aren’t fond of and they don’t need to smell much of it to experience discomfort. Even a diluted form of citrus essential oil will keep them away.
Does eucalyptus oil deter bees & wasps?
Eucalyptus Oil Eucalyptus oil is one of the most effective essential oils for deterring bees and wasps. They’re not fans of the fragrance and will stay away if they smell it. You can apply eucalyptus oil directly to your skin or dip pieces of cotton balls in it and place it around different areas of your yard to ward them off.
What is a natural Wasp and bee repellent?
Thyme is another natural wasp and bee repellent that works really well. It’s super low maintenance and is a perennial, meaning it survives through all seasons. The easiest way to grow thyme is in a container on your porch and you can use it in a variety of homemade dishes. 11. Distilled Vinegar