DEET an issue with bees?

tandemrx · July 05, 2008, 12:02:52 PM

In the Midwest after the floods we now have a huge mosquito problem - its really scary out there. West Nile is also starting to rev. up.

I will have my Bee suite on, but there will still be vulnerable areas.

Does anyone out there use DEET mosquito repellant when visiting their bees?

Not interested in alternative mosquito repellants, just what impact DEET has on bees (obviously just sprayed on my clothing). I wouldn't think it would impact them any more than smoke.

Thanks in advance for any info.

eri · July 05, 2008, 02:14:17 PM

I've wondered about insect repellents' effect on bees as well. This is interesting:

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bees.html

JP · July 05, 2008, 04:49:08 PM

DEET is powerful stuff, I wouldn't get any near your hands or gloves, the stuff can melt plastic, I've seen it done on several occassions. And yes apply it to your clothes especially if you're going with something above 30%.

If it melts plastic what will it do to bees??

...JP

ccwonka · July 05, 2008, 08:08:10 PM

DEET is actualy not an insecticide . . . it disrupts the receptors that allow a female mosquito to find the body heat and smell of a target. It causes no actual harm (besides indeed melting plastic) to the insects, so it should cause no actual harm to your bees. It might be interesting to see if it did disorient them in the same manner as it does a mosquito . . .
How about one of ya'll try it on YOUR bees first, though :-D

CC

mlewis48 · July 05, 2008, 08:19:46 PM

I spray on repellant everytime that I go to my out yards due to the high amount of ticks that are out this year. I have never seen them this bad. I use Deep Woods off to repell the ticks and other pests. The bees don't seem to mind at all. I don't think that it is the 30% range.

tandemrx · July 06, 2008, 12:13:06 AM

Pretty sure Deep Woods off is 30% DEET, but I know that for serious tick and mosquito repelling the CDC and other similar groups recommend above 18%.

I know it isn't an insecticide, but was just thinking that if it did disorient bees like it did mosquitos then maybe it had some other effects on bees that I wasn't aware of.

Have come to find out that DEET does not seem to repel bees (africanized or other types). So they must not get mixed up by DEET like mosquitos do.

We also have a boat load of ticks (and live in Lyme Disease country) and that is another reason I wanted to spray some on me.

Interesting discussion though.

JP · July 06, 2008, 12:22:48 AM

Yeah, all I'm saying is not to get it on the bees or it may melt them like the wicked witch.

...JP

SgtMaj · July 06, 2008, 01:31:03 AM

Quote from: eri on July 05, 2008, 02:14:17 PMhttp://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bees.html

I like how they have a bumble bee in the first picture, in an article about killer bees. LOL

qa33010 · July 06, 2008, 01:38:40 AM

I do know one person that uses the orange OFF spray on their hands when inspecting. They wait for it to dry. Been using it for years.

randydrivesabus · July 06, 2008, 08:13:12 AM

if you googleize you'll find that there have been studies done to see if DEET would be an effective repellent for AHB. The studies show that if you spray it in the air around you the bees will be repelled for a very short period of time. Otherwise it has no visible effect. doesn't wearing a bee suit keep the skeeters off?