The Lowdown on Arizona Bees

Arizona is home to around 1,300 species of bees – one of the most diverse bee populations in the United States. These creatures tend to evoke strong reactions from Arizonans. Their stings are extremely painful and potentially dangerous, but their positive impact on the environment shouldn’t be overlooked. So which is more important, not getting stung or maintaining Arizona’s ecosystem? The good news is we have recommended steps to take that can keep bees out of personal spaces without killing them and negatively impacting the environment. So let’s dive into why it is important to coexist with bees and some simple steps Arizonans can take to do so.   

Why are Bees Important?

Pollination

Bees are the primary species responsible for pollinating many fruits, nuts and vegetables grown for human consumption. They also pollinate almost all of the world’s flowered plants. Pollination is the process of plant fertilization or transferring pollen from male plants to female plants. When a bee feeds on a male flower, the pollen from the anther sticks to the small hairs on the bee’s body. When the bee moves on to a female flower, those pollen grains are transferred to the stigma, resulting in fertilization. This process varies depending on the different species of bees and plants, but no matter how you cut it, bees play an essential role in the process. 

Agricultural Support

Because of Arizona’s year-round sunshine, it is a popular destination for growing a variety of crops for food and material. Arizona is one of the top states for alfalfa, cotton and cantaloupe. Farmers also grow diverse crops of fruit, vegetables and nuts throughout different seasons. Bees are partially if not wholly responsible for pollinating all these different crops. Without bees pollinating commercial crops, Arizona’s economic status and food supply would drop dramatically.

Products

Two of the most popular products bees provide are honey and beeswax. Bees collect nectar from plants and take it back to the honeycomb where it eventually turns into honey. Making honey is the bee’s way of preserving food for future consumption when there aren’t many flowers in bloom. Honey is also popular among humans as a sweetener and in many household products. 

Beeswax is another popular bee product. It can be used as a lubricant, waterproofing agent, wood and leather polish, candle material and is a popular ingredient in many cosmetic products. Cosmetic products made with beeswax are sought after because of their hydrating, protective and anti-inflammatory qualities. Beeswax also gives the products it is used in a pleasant, all-natural scent.

Most Common Bees in Arizona

1. Bumble bees are arguably the most recognizable bee species in Arizona, with fuzzy black bodies, distinct yellow stripes, and an unmistakable low buzzing noise (you know the one). Bumblebees are social, living in colonies with a queen and caste system. They are one of the best pollinators in the state because of their ability to vibrate their wings at higher frequencies, dislodging pollen from flowers faster than other bees can. 

2. Mason bees live in solitude, without the support of a colony. Mason bees stand out from other bees with their distinct blue-black colored bodies. Mason bees are important to local agriculture, carrying large amounts of pollen to fertilize popular foods like almonds and apples. 

3. Leafcutters, as their name suggests, use their large mandible to cut leaves, building their nests from the pieces. They are often used as commercial pollinators for crops like fruits, nuts and even alfalfa. Leafcutters are considered friendly and non-aggressive because they rarely sting. 

4. Carpenter bees are the largest native bees in the United States with long, shiny black bodies. These bees are often the reason behind holes in the wood of Arizona homes. While carpenter bees do not eat wood, they do use their large jaws to create holes in wood to shelter their eggs. Carpenter bees are solitary creatures, but females do tend to create galleries where they deposit their eggs together. 

5. Cactus bees are responsible for pollinating many of Arizona’s cacti including prickly pear, cholla and saguaro. Cactus bees resemble honeybees, with compact bodies striped with golden and brown colors. Cactus bees are another solitary species only found in the Southwestern United States and some parts of Mexico. 

6. Killer bees, more formally known as Africanized honeybees are a common threat in Arizona. While individual killer bee stings aren’t any more dangerous than other bee stings, the threat comes from the extremely aggressive, territorial nature of the bees. All bees want to protect their hives, but even accidentally being near a killer beehive is enough to set hundreds or even thousands of killer bees into attack mode. So many bee stings at once could have deadly consequences. 

How to Prevent or Relocate Bees

Bees are essential to a balanced ecosystem and provide valuable products, but that doesn’t mean you want them up in your business. If you find bees around your home, don’t kill them. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, more than 1 in 4 bee species are at risk of extinction. The different species all have specific roles, so any of them going extinct could have detrimental effects on the ecosystem. This is why we strongly recommend relocating bees to a more suitable area instead of killing them like other pests.

Plant Bee-repellent Plants

Planting bee-repellant plants is an all-natural way to prevent bees from invading your outdoor space without using any type of chemicals. Bees are repelled by many strong scents, like herbs or mint, so adding some of these plants to your favorite outdoor spaces can send current bees packing and keep new ones from settling in. Some popular bee-repellant plants include:

• Thyme
• Basil
• Citronella
• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Wormwood
• Eucalyptus
• Geraniums
• Marigolds

Avoid Sweet Fragrances

Since a bee’s main job is pollination, they are always on the hunt for nectar. Nectar is what gives flowers their sweet scent, which means they are inherently attracted to anything sweet-smelling like perfumes, lotions, food and drinks. It’s also best to landscape with plants and flowers that don’t emit sweet scents.

Seal Entry Points

Many colony species swarm when it comes time to relocate or expand their nest. If there are any cracks, holes, gaps or tears in building materials, bees looking to build a new nest somewhere safe will find them. It is much easier to prevent bees from getting inside than it is to remove them once they have made themselves comfortable. Sealing any entry points is one of the most effective ways to keep bees and other pests outside where they belong.

Smoke Them Out

Bees are extremely sensitive to the scent of smoke. It doesn’t take a lot of smoke to fool bees into thinking there is a dangerous forest fire, and they need to relocate. Adding a fire pit to your backyard is one of the most effective ways to keep bees away – once a hive has moved because of smoke, they don’t typically return. If you have located a hive around your house and don’t have a firepit, consult a professional to decide if you can safely start a small, contained fire to get rid of the hive.  

Pest Control Products

Every pest situation is different, especially when it comes to bees. This is why it is important to talk to an expert who can help you decide which products are the best fit for your situation. Bug & Weed Mart carries a variety of safe and effective pest control products that can be used on bees when relocating them isn’t an option. Some of these products include liquid repellents, vapor-emitting strips, dust products and aerosol products. We typically recommend these for a controlled spot application when bees get into places they shouldn’t.

Safety Tips

Keep Calm

Panicking increases the odds of getting stung. Instead, stay still and wait for the bee to get distracted or leave. Waving your hands around can draw more attention and may cause you to hit them. This could make them angry and more likely to sting.  

Avoid Certain Products

If you are going somewhere bees are common, avoid applying any products or cosmetics with sweet scents to your body or clothes. This includes perfumes, lotion, sunscreen, hair spray or even car fresheners. 

Wear The Right Clothes

Bees are more attracted to certain colors and textures than others. Wearing light-colored, smooth-finished clothing is recommended. Avoid wearing clothes with floral prints, bright colors or textured fabrics like wool, because these clothes might make bees think you have some delicious nectar to give them. 

Bees are an important part of our ecosystem. They are the reason many of our favorite foods, products and flowers exist. This is why we like to appreciate them from afar. If you have bees in or around your home, stop by one of our valley-wide locations and one of our experienced team members can help decide the best course of action to keep you and your loved ones safe.