Hello Everyone, Can anyone help me with something that can keep bees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornet away from my front door? My children love to run bare footed but there are over 25 different bees flying around our front area that I don't dare allow them to. I wish to spray only natural deterents but something that will not scare them away for miles. I'm sure that when the garden comes in that they will be more than happy to visit over there but until then any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Laura

-- Laura (MOM2three123@aol.com), May 02, 2001

Answers

I know honey bees dont like menthol, the beekeeper i worked for used it to treat for traceal(SP?) mites. I think. But i do know that when we put it on the top bars the pitch of there hum increased as they tryed to get the smell out. and when we would check them later they would have the menthol all glued in.

-- MikeinKS (mhonk@oz-online.net), May 02, 2001.

menthonal will NOT deter bees,, keepers use it to treat for tracheal mites. There has to be something attracting them to the door, spilled soda? something sweet?? flowers arouond? Yellow jackets and hornets will go for meat and grease, as well as sweet stuff. Get rid of the attractant, and they will leava also

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), May 02, 2001.

Check what is in your lawn- lots of clover will attract bees, as will flowering plants in the beds or the lawn.Is the trash by any chance nearby? Many bees are attracted to trash, and, as mentioned above, to sweet and greasy stuff. Picnic table nearby? Spilled food? Although going barefoot is enjoyable, farms and farmyards are dangerous places...if you have horses, for tetanus bearing nails in wood. My great aunt contracted tetanus from a piece of metal in the rose bed- which had been manured with horse manure, a long time before! I have one son who had that bad bee sting allergy, and had his leg swell up to twice normal size when stung the first time, before we diagnosed it. Good you are being careful!

-- seraphima (djones@kodiak.alaska.edu), May 08, 2001.

I wish to thank you for your responses. I think that it was a problem with clover and grease(from the screen door piston). Ya'll saved me alot of troubleshooting and time. Again, thank you!

-- Laura (MOM2three123@aol.com), May 11, 2001.