Photo Credit: Flickr/andreas
My good friend, Ellen, has a beautiful jungle escape right in her backyard. I have enjoyed several relaxing evenings there with her on her patio or up by the fire pit, nestled in the trees, listening to the quiet sounds of the koi pond. But Ellen approached me the other day with a problem. She has been coping with a significant bee population and asked for my help for non-toxic methods to control them.
For the most part, bees are a beneficial pest. They help to control other pests in the yard and they pollinate our flowers and plants - very important stuff. But they are also quite annoying, and can be dangerous to people with allergies. Ellen has two small dogs that she is concerned about getting stung, and also concerned about them getting exposed to toxic pest sprays. The dogs don’t seem to be frightened of the bees, but are rather curious and therefore prone to stings. She also entertains often, including outdoor barbequing, which attracts the bees to the areas where her guests are congregating. How can Ellen control the bees without toxins and without totally obliterating the bee population? It can be tricky, but here are a few suggestions:
Some bees are considered a commodity and your local beekeeper will be happy to come get them for you. I found the Washington State Beekeeper Association online at www.wasba.org, which lists resources for finding a beekeeper near you, as well as the newest information and events relating to bees. The beekeepers will only take honey bees, so try to verify what species you have before you call.
A non-toxic home remedy you can try is plain old Borax. This will only work if you can get close enough to either coat the nest or the area directly by the nest so that the bees will track it in. Not sure what the science is behind this but I hear it can work.
Trapping is another method that can work for controlling the flying bees, but this does not address the problem at the source. I found a few different options for purchase online but I found a good selection at www.eartheasy.com. The basic premise is that you hang this container near the bee source. Fill the bottom with some sweet smelling liquid to attract the bees. Then, the bees fly in through the narrow opening but it is nearly impossible for them to find their way out. Remember, you will need to empty this container from time to time. I recommend one made from glass as they are easy to clean and better for the environment at the end of its lifecycle than plastic.
Or, you can try to scare them off by hanging a decoy nest. You can make your own or buy one at www.eartheasy.com. This works better if you identify the problem early on as this deters bees from establishing their nest. So this may not work as well for Ellen who appears to have an established nest.
Some other things to watch out for; wood piles make great hiding places for bees and they love to nest in the nooks and crannies. Garbage, pet food, and other items that are sweet smelling attract the bees. Make sure you take inventory of what you have laying around that might be luring the bees to your yard. Either remove those items or redesign how you use your yard so you avoid the areas that the bees are attracted to.
If you just can’t get the problem under control and you need to call a professional, please call someone who practices IPM (Integrated Pest Management). This professional will do whatever they can to solve your problem in the least toxic way possible. Most should deal with a bee problem with a simple vacuum system. (Note - I do not recommend that you try vacuuming a bee’s nest on your own. Sounds dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing!)
Eco Home Consultations provides green living consultation services in the Seattle area, focusing on practical ways to integrate green living into your household. Learn more at www.ecohomeconsults.com or email questions about this blog or other green living issues to Melissa@ecohomeconsults.com.
Comments
Leave a comment