10 Tips to Keep Bees From Crashing Your Outdoor Summer Party

Summer outdoor parties are often infiltrated and commandeered by striped, stinging intruders. Few things can ruin an otherwise pleasant party than trying to eat when you’re dodging bees flying around your head, buzzing in your ear, and crawling around in your plate.

Here are some easy tips for how to prevent bees from crashing your summer BBQ, so you can enjoy outside gatherings throughout this warm season.

How to Prevent Bees at Outdoor Gatherings

1. Make a mixture. Take a banana peel, cut it into thin strips then insert the strips into an empty 2-liter bottle. Combine 1 cup of sugar with 1 cup of vinegar, stir, then pour the mixture into the bottle. Fill the bottle up with water that lands at 2 inches below the neck. Tie a piece of string around the neck and hang it from a nearby tree branch.
2. Use mothballs. This is another effective repellent for bees. Cut the feet off of a few pairs of pantyhose and fill them with mothballs. Tie the pantyhose off and hang them around your picnic area. The pungent odor will discourage bees and also keep other insects away.
3. Keep food separate. Set up the food table away from where everyone will be gathered.
4. Keep food covered and sealed. Keep your food items in closed containers as much as possible. Use lids for your food containers and your beverages, or cover them with a plate, foil, or plastic wrap, to prevent the bees from climbing into the food. If you can hide some of the aromas of your meal, the bees may not pick you up as quickly on their radar.
5. Plant marigolds. Use a pot of marigolds as a centerpiece on your table. They serve as an attractive decoration, and they naturally repel bees and other bugs. Bees and other bugs find the scent unpleasant.
6. Plant cloves. Place 4-5 cloves on the food table. Bees hate the smell and should steer clear while you’re eating.
7. Plant mint leaves. Sprinkle mint leaves around your eating area. This plant will help to mask the sweet smell of your food to keep bees from noticing all of the delicious grub they are missing out on.
8. Avoid wearing bright colors. Bees notice bright hues and sweet smells; essentially anything that reminds them of a flower. Avoid bright colors and floral prints for your tablecloth or picnic blanket. Be careful when selecting plates and napkins, and make sure they are all white or another non-floral color.
9. Keep trash away and sealed. Keep the food and trash bins tightly covered when not in use. This will help reduce the enticing aromas that might attract these pesky insects.
10. Keep a dryer sheet on you. Fold a fresh dryer sheet and put it in the pocket of whatever clothing you are wearing. If you are carrying a purse or beach bag, throw a few fresh sheets in that as well.

Need Help from a Bee and Wasp Exterminator?

These tips will help you learn how to prevent bees this summer from ruining your outdoor gatherings. If bees, wasps, or hornets are routinely infesting your yard, there may be a larger problem at hand, such as a nearby bee or wasp nest. It is important to contact a residential pest control expert if you see an influx of bees around your home because they can potentially harm you, your loved ones, or even your pets. 

Here at Lookout Pest Control, we have experienced professionals who can identify different bee species and properly remove nests from in and around your home. Reach out to one of our pest control professionals for immediate service, especially if you or a family member has a bee allergy. Contact us today for a free estimate on pest control services!