I am attending a party this weekend that is being held at a forest preserve. Does anybody have any tricks to help me keep the bees away? I know that we will be surrounded by them, but are then any tips on how to handle them? Thanks for your help!
Thank you for all of the helpful responses. Luckily we only had a handful for yellowjackets buzzing around. The weather was cool enough that they didn't bother us. I did keep all of the food covered and I really did have any problems.
I will, however, keep all of these handy tips for next year!!!
Bees... none that I know of.
Yellow Jackets, however, you can keep away with a can of tuna or salmon. Just open it and leave it 100 feet from the edge of the party. They'll stay there gobbling up the fish and leave the rest of the party alone.
If you are going to have pop, or other sweet stuff, they are going to come around. If one comes by you, you could gently wave it off, but don't blow at it because the sweetness on your breath will just keep it around. For the most part, while they are a nuisance, bees won't usually hurt you unless you hurt them. So just stay calm, and try your best not to attract them. Keep foods and drinks covered if you can. If you have a spill, wash it away with water so it doesn't attract them. Tell your kids to be careful, and barefoot is probably not a good idea. Have fun!
I am allergic to bees and I put a couple dryer sheets in (all) my pockets and that seems to help a little...that and a lot of those citronella candles....and maybe even a bucket w/sugar water or even a open full soda can far away from your area...it will give them something else to flock too!
Can't wait to hear more responses...I haven't been stung since the 8th grade...and always get nervous in the summer time!
Use fabric softner sheets. Just put them in your pocket and the bees should stay away. Ive also hear of wiping them on you, that helps too.
I tried this at the begining of the summer for a party and it worked wonders, not sure if it will help with these late season pests but it can't hurt to try. Put 4 pennies in a qt. ziploc bg half filled with water and thumbtack them up around area. It is supposed to mimic a large bug which scares off others.
The critters that attend picnics this time of year are not bees, they are yellow jackets, which are wasps. They give bees a bad name -- the various ways we've kept wasps at bay when around food include: keep all food covered, especially anything sweet; buy the sticky traps that attract them, and hang it a few feet away from where your eating; drink beverages out of closed containers with a straw. Yellow jackets come out of the ground, so running around in bare feet is ill advised.
I've heard that Bounce Sheets for the laundry/dryer work if you stuff them in your pockets.
Bees, and all types of bugs are attracted to the drinks that are being served outside. One cheap and easy way to help stop them from drinking with you is to completely cover your drink container.
Theirs a low cost one made in Pittsburgh USA by a VOB that works great. Google drink protector and you'll see a bunch.
I wish I could give you a good answer. I can tell you NOT to buy the one at WalMart. it looks like a bird feeder (clear plastic with yellow top & Bottom). Claims to attract the bees with a special nectar. Yeah, doesn't work. I would probably just try sugar water or a popsicle melted in a container to to try to catch em. The $15.00 piece that I bought did nothing at all. Want to send it back to the manufacturer with a note of disgust.
My mom just told me recently that a restaurant she frequents keeps
a few gallon-size ziplock bags filled (maybe partially) with water, hanging up outside near their outdoor dining area. It supposedly scares away the
bees when they see their reflection in the water and fear drowning.
Some sugar water or an open can of soda placed far away from where you are.
Wear white, not bright colors. Try keeping a few clippings of mint on your table, or tied to your waistband.
A spray bottle of water can be used to soak them, and step on them.
Put a little wad of newspaper or something in a brown paper bag, tie shut, and hang upside down. Wasps are territorial, and will probably avoid anothers nest, even though it's fake. I'd crumple the bag a little before stuffing. They also sell fake nests, but I don't know how much they are.
I don't know anything that keeps them away, but I do know that any kind of scented hairspray, cologne/perfurme, body spray, scented deordorant, etc. can attract bees. Also, sugar in sodas can attract bees. Maybe encourage your guests to go scent-free for the day.
