'Tis the Season for Bees

The sun is out, the air is warm, the flowers are blooming - and the bees are out in full force. Though we may get nervous when we see a few bees flying around, we still have to remember that these remarkable little insects are a necessary part of spring and summer. That being said, however, most of us would still prefer not to get into any confrontations with the little creatures.

Many people confuse bees with wasps. Although they are technically related, bees are not as naturally aggressive as wasps. The most common "bee" that you will see invading your picnic or barbecue is the Yellow Jacket, which is a wasp. Yellow Jackets are aggressive, and tend to be attracted to the smell of meat.

Honeybees are nowhere near as aggressive as wasps, and other varieties, such as bumblebees, are even less aggressive than honeybees. However, honeybees will become agitated and aggressive if they believe that their hive is being threatened. They will also sting under extreme circumstances, such as if they are stepped on, or swatted with an open hand. Common sense and a little care can stop this from happening.

If you find a honeybee hive on your property or close to where there will be a lot of activity, the best thing to do is to call a professional to remove the hive. Though it is possible to remove it yourself or to kill the bees, your inexperience may cause you to be stung - possibly repeatedly. Taking this chance is usually not worth it. An exterminator or beekeeper can come and remove the hive quickly and efficiently, and usually for a reasonable fee.

As far as the bees that you see in your garden or in a park or other place where there may be bee-attracting flowers and plants, your best bet is to leave them alone. Honeybees and bumblebees are not interested in you, but in interested in pollen. You may find the occasional bee hovering around you, but this may be because it is confused by a scent that you are wearing.

If you are going to be in an area that is frequented by bees, try not to wear any flower-scented perfumes or lotions. If you are, and a bee is hovering around you, it is probably just trying to find out where the flower is. If a bee is getting too close, do not panic - just walk away. Alternatively, if a bee has landed on you, blow on it gently to try to get it to fly away. Staying calm is the key here.

Although there are chemical repellants that can be reasonably effective in keeping bees away, these usually are not necessary. Especially if you have a garden, you actually should be glad to see bees around. They are performing an important service. Stay away from them, and more often than not, they will stay away from you. If too many bees have become a problem, or if someone in your family is highly allergic and you are seeing too many bees around your home, call a professional. Most of the time bees and people can live in peaceful harmony, as long as the people are smart about it.