Bee Repellent

[hilreal]

My bees are feeding in my neighbors mulch and his children are afraid of them so I need to try to encourage them to stay away. I am sure once it warms up and more things are in bloom that they will head to greener pastures. Is there anything I can spray on the mulch to discourage them?

[Tom G. Laury]

are they on the mulch? That is unusual, sounds like there is something sweet attracting them. Turn it over. No repellent for what you describe.

[hilreal]

There are 2 choices. Either a child has dropped something sweet or he recently cut down an evergreen tree and there is saw dust covering the mulch. Perhaps they are after the sap for propolis. They seem to be sucking water out of the mulch. I turned it over this evening and I will see what it looks like tomorrow.

[Michael Palmer]

In the early spring, bees forage on a wide variety of things...not necessarily flowers. This spring has been particularly difficult for many beekeepers...the phone doesn't stop ringing. My bees have been in bird feeders, barn gutters, chicken houses, saw dust, maple sugarhouses, front lawns, high moisture corn bags, and you name it.

In fact, today I was told to leave one yard and take my effing bees with me. This beast of a woman...I call her the Balrog...from the [I]Trilogy of the Rings[I]...went off on me. Unreasonable. Funny how everyone else near my other 32 yards is understanding of the bees' needs for foraging. They're industrious and need to work...whether its bird feeders or cow manure...chicken in her case. I explain, they tolerate. I give honey...they love it. Not the Balrog. Farmer says move, so I gotta move. Oh joy.

[Matt NY]

About a month ago my bees were all over the chicken feed. First time I saw it.

[Tom G. Laury]

Yeah Michael they shout and scowl at you as if you had committed some kind of gross indiscretion. Probably not much love at home either.:rolleyes:

[Tom G. Laury]

Out here they even collect sulphur, but something attracts them like a smell or a color. And mostly in early spring although they will tear all the mastic out of a trailer homes roof in the autumn too.

[dcross]

If the pile is moist they might use it as a water source all season long!

[hilreal]

Thanks for all the stories. Turns after a couple of warm days the mulch dried out and the bees left it alone. In addition the dandelions came out in full force so hopefully the rain today will not attract them back to the muclh pile. A honey bear for the kids seem to calm their anger.

[brooksbeefarm]

If it happens again put a few drops of bee go on it, sometimes when getting a swarm out of a tree some of the bees keep flying back up to the limb i've cut to get them.I found a drop or two of bee go on the cut limb stops them from going back to it. Of course the childern will probably leave also.:D Jack

[dcross]

Provide a water source near the hives so they don't go to somebodies pool:)