Q&A for How to Deter Bees

You're not doomed. Contact a local bee keeper and ask about removal of established honey bee colonies.

It is possible bees are being attracted to the light you put on. Try not putting the light on and see if that makes a difference. However, it's best to not worry about a single bee -- it's probably just passing by and you happen to spot it.

Bottom line, you can't "keep" them away from anywhere, they're free-flying insects which will fly where they want. To minimise bee activity, try using natural bee repellents (such as tea-tree oil and benzaldehye; lemongrass, peppermint oil and citronella; or citrus, mint and eucalyptus oils) and keep any food and drink well covered.

We had the same problem as our neighbor is a beekeeper. What worked for us is filling a small dish with vinegar and placing it on top of the hot tub filter. It stopped the bees from attempting to get water from the hot tub.

Cover it with a mesh small enough to prevent any bees from getting through.

Put some vinegar in a spray bottle and spray it in your car. The smell should keep the bees away.

Spray white vinegar and water in a 3:1 ratio into the crevices. The smell should deter them.

There are 2 ways that you can do so: 1) Rub an acid substance, such as lemon juice or white vinegar, on the surfaces where hives are often spotted. 2) When you spot a small hive forming, use a garden hose to spray it on high pressure. Note that this is only for hives at their intermediate stages, and it is recommended to stay at least 10 meters away.

During the daytime, keep your bird nest box closed if not in use. You can also make some sugar water and put it near your aviary/bird nest box, but far enough away so the bees won't be a nuisance. They will go for the water.

Vinegar, catnip, and white pine are strong-smelling things that bees do not like.

Have you thought about using bug spray? If you haven't, try to see if that works. If they still bother you, try wearing thick clothing.

No. A bee won't understand human communication, so you won't get anywhere with trying to say "shoo" to a bee to make it go away.

Maybe make a bowl of “bee bait. ” To keep bees away from you and your guests outside, use a bowl of sweet-smelling liquid to draw the bees’ attention. Pour a generous amount of soda, maple syrup, orange juice, or fruit juice (of any variety) into a bowl. Keep this some distance away from the flowers and customers and it should keep the bees at bay.

It is very likely there is already a nest in the chimney, because the updraft conditions are ideal. Removing them, usually requiring a safe pesticide, is a job for a licensed pest controller.