How to live with wasps and bees
While bees and wasps can be scary, it is possible to live harmoniously with these stinging creatures. We recommend practicing the following tips the next time you are outdoors.
- Keep food and beverage containers sealed after consumption. Throwing soda cans in an open trash can is inviting bees, hornets and wasps.
- Use large resealable bags at your outdoor picnic.
- At a large event, ensure trash bags are closed and sealed after every deposit.
- If you see many insects buzzing around, use caution as there may be a nest near you.
- Swatting at stinging insects can make them alarmed and cause them to sting.
- If a bee, hornet or wasp lands on you, use something to slide under the insect to remove it.
Why not spray insecticides?
Broad spectrum insecticides not only kill targeted pests, they also kill beneficial insects, including bees, butterflies and ladybugs. Bees and butterflies are important pollinators that aid food production. Birds and other animals that eat insects suffer when insect populations decline.