Hummm! I wonder?

lakeman · July 23, 2009, 10:23:12 AM

Remember, I am a "newbee", having started out with two hives obtained from a commercial keeper, selling off his hives (through the local bee club) with bees in place. I have my bees (and garden), on property away from where I am residing, property where we will be moving too in the future.
My present residence is on the lakeshore, and we have to usually spray down with insect repellant when working outside in the yard, because of the mosquitoes. As I went out this morning to pick my blueberries, I was spraying my ankles, neck, and arms with insect repellant, and wondered if insect repellant would be usefull while working the bees. Would it be harmfull to them, and/or helpfull to ward off stings? has anyone had any experience with this? does anyone know the answers? Will it be harmfull to them? will it work? does it make them angry?

riverrat · July 23, 2009, 10:33:23 AM

Dont know that it will work haven't heard of anyone trying it. but just for craps and grins lets go ahead and give it a try in shorts no shirt or veil on a hot evening towards dark when a dearth is on. Got to eliminated all variables. Then when your once again able to type let us know how it went :-D seriously I dont think it will work :)

lakeman · July 23, 2009, 02:53:52 PM

Quote from: riverrat on July 23, 2009, 10:33:23 AM
Dont know that it will work haven't heard of anyone trying it. but just for craps and grins lets go ahead and give it a try in shorts no shirt or veil on a hot evening towards dark when a dearth is on. Got to eliminated all variables. Then when your once again able to type let us know how it went :-D seriously I dont think it will work :)

If I was to try it, it would not be as ----->in shorts no shirt or veil<------- , but surely someone has experimented, and must have some info on it.

Kathyp · July 23, 2009, 03:58:04 PM

i tried it. not only did it NOT work, but it seemed to piss them off.

Natalie · July 23, 2009, 04:58:35 PM

Kathy maybe you should try it again, just to be sure. :-D

lakeman · July 23, 2009, 04:59:43 PM

Quote from: kathyp on July 23, 2009, 03:58:04 PM
i tried it. not only did it NOT work, but it seemed to piss them off.

Ahh! Thats what I was looking for, I guess I will cross that off my "try it" list.

BoBn · July 23, 2009, 06:10:52 PM

If you are creating a "bee beard" on yourself, a teeny little bit of citronella wiped on your face will help keep them from covering your face (you should still stuff some cotton in your nose). They don't like to walk on the stuff.

Maybe you could experiment with spraying yourself with Bee Quick before working your hives. :-D

David Stokely · July 25, 2009, 02:11:41 PM

This is so funny. Riverrat. . . with the emphasis on RAT. . . :)

LOL I am still just laughing at this. . .OH the sacrifices we make in the name of science. . .

'then when you're once again able to type. . .let us know',

Oh my goodness. . .still laughing. . .

Joelel · July 27, 2009, 01:32:49 PM

Quote from: lakeman on July 23, 2009, 10:23:12 AM
Remember, I am a "newbee", having started out with two hives obtained from a commercial keeper, selling off his hives (through the local bee club) with bees in place. I have my bees (and garden), on property away from where I am residing, property where we will be moving too in the future.
My present residence is on the lakeshore, and we have to usually spray down with insect repellant when working outside in the yard, because of the mosquitoes. As I went out this morning to pick my blueberries, I was spraying my ankles, neck, and arms with insect repellant, and wondered if insect repellant would be usefull while working the bees. Would it be harmfull to them, and/or helpfull to ward off stings? has anyone had any experience with this? does anyone know the answers? Will it be harmfull to them? will it work? does it make them angry?

I know they don't like and do attack some smells,try it,tell me what happens. We work our hives in shorts,my son gets attacked when he wears his greasy work cloths and hair gels. so he don't wear that any more.

Michael Bush · July 30, 2009, 10:08:45 AM

If it is citronella based it will attract bees

Eshu · July 30, 2009, 11:23:36 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on July 30, 2009, 10:08:45 AM
If it is citronella based it will attract bees

If I remember right, citronella has one or two compounds in common with Nasanov pheromone...

qa33010 · July 30, 2009, 03:18:45 PM

I know a couple people that use the brand off. I don't know if it is the orange or green one, but they say it works okay unless the bees get really hacked off. Deet and I don't get along very well so I'll not experiment with it myself.