Greetings!
We're receiving a higher than usual number of inquiries regarding bees and whether there's an insecticide or process to prevent them from buzzing around landscaping and pools. I certainly understand the concern and suppose that except for commercial and hobbyist bee- keepers, aka apiarists, the little critters don't head-up a popularity list. Let's face it, the words bee and sting seem to be inextricably linked and the connection doesn't create a pleasant thought. Now back to the issue at hand.
Repelling Bees: If you're concerned with a hive call us to get it removed. Other than that the long and short answer as to preventing or repelling bees from being in your yard is no. Now don't get discouraged - hang with me here while I explain why and provide some information about bees that you might find interesting. I'm speaking about honeybees; not to be confused with the feared African species reputed to be 'killer bees'.
Fatal Attraction: Believe it or not there's a direct correlation between bees and your landscaping. The more plush, aquatic, and ornate your landscaping the more likely bees will be attracted to the area for the following reasons:
- Gather pollen and nectar for survival and to feed their young
- Forage around shrubs for nutrients,
- Pollinate plants and vegetables
- Seek hydration from water sources e.g., pools, fountains, and waterfalls.
Bees focus on feeding and hydrating then return to their hive to share the spoils of the day within the colony: they are not inclined to attack and rarely do so.
The Vital Role Bees Play: People typically think the most important functions bees perform are making honey and bees wax. However, that's not the case. The bees' most vital role is to pollinate plants so they can reproduce, i.e., bear fruit and seeds, many of which are eaten by humans and other living species from birds to mammals.
Pollination: In its simplest form pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male parts of a flower to the female parts of a flower of the same species, which results in fertilization of plant ovaries and the production of seeds. Some plants self-pollinate but the majority fertilizes through cross-pollination and requires assistance to move pollen from flower to flower. Wind moves the pollen for some plants such as grasses like corn while animal pollinators move pollen for the majority of other flowering plants.
Honeybees are excellent pollinators because their characteristics include the following:
- Hairy bodies trap pollen and carry it between flowers
- Body size enables them to pollinate many different shapes and sizes of flowers
- Require large quantities of nectar and pollen to feed their young
- Large numbers visit flowers regularly to obtain necessary foods
- Concentrate on one species of plant at a time
Bees' Contribution To The Food Chain: Bees pollinate about one-sixth of the world's flowering plant species and some 400 of its agricultural plants that include vegetables, fruits, and oil seeds. Many forage plants upon which livestock depends are pollinated by bees. Interestingly, the annual value of bee pollination to American agriculture is in the billions of dollars. For the purpose of this newsletter I've only focused on bees relative to your landscaping, but needles to say, commercial apiaries are a huge business.
Plants and Bees Benefit: Plants benefit from pollinators because the movement of pollen allows them to reproduce by setting seeds. Bees pollinate to get nectar and pollen from flowers to meet their energy requirements and to produce offspring.
This presents an interesting quandary: attempt to kill or repel the bees and watch many beautiful plants in your landscaping deteriorate and stop growing; peacefully coexist with the buzzing little critters and enjoy a lush, beautifully landscaped yard that will make you proud. Only you can decide.
