Last Updated on October 15, 2023
Sweat bees can become problematic for you in many ways.
They may irritate you while you are on your lawn, beach or even inside your house.
Although they don’t cause any significant harm, they love irritating us! They may buzz in your ear while you are sleeping, annoy you while you are working and even jump into your meal!
So, if you’re wondering what attracts sweat bees and how to keep sweat bees away, continue reading the post! Certainly, some ways out there can be put into practice to get rid of them.
Let’s start off by first understanding what attracts sweat bees!
What attracts sweat bees?
Sweat bees can come around you for many different reasons. However, some of the most common reasons include the following:
- Human sweat
- Moisture in surrounding
- Human body smell
- Plants
- Breathing
- Hot temperature
- Chemicals
- Dead materials
- Leftover food
- Dirty environment
Human sweat
Hopefully, a Eureka moment has lit up inside you, and now it makes a little more sense as to why they have the prefix ‘sweat.’ The reason is that they are easily attracted by human sweat, whether produced through exercise, hot temperatures, or other means.
The presence of salt and minerals in our sweat is what draws them closer to humans.”
Moisture in surrounding
These bees love to be where there’s moisture!
Be it wet soil, road or moist vegetation. All these places and similar ones can become their sitting area.
Human body smell
Just like sweat, the smell of your body also attracts sweat bees.
Surprisingly, items like perfumes, lotions and other scent products can also attract them.
Plants
Sweat bees take part in pollination, which is why you see them near plants.
Breathing
The smell of food that comes right from your mouth in the form of a breath is one thing that attracts the sweat bees.
They assume that as a food source and then get near you.
Hot temperature
Sweat bees need high temperatures to adjust their body temperature, which is why they are mostly seen on summer days.
Chemicals
If you have an excess of household chemical products, such as bleach and detergent, don’t be surprised to find them around your house, as these items attract them.
Dead materials
Sweat bees are always hunting for decaying matter, such as dead animals. So if you have anything of that sort near you, that should also attract them.
Leftover food
Leaving leftover food is one quick way of attracting sweat bees.
Not properly washing dishes also attracts them, so make sure that’s something you’re not overlooking too.
Dirty environment
For almost every type of insect, an unclean environment is the most common source of attraction.
The dirty floors, clothes, and household items can quickly become a favorite spot for sweat bees.
How to keep sweat bees away?
Now that we’ve learned what attracts sweat bees let’s shift our focus to learning how to keep sweat bees away.
So, without any further ado, here are some strategies for sweat bee prevention.
- Air movements
- Look at the wet floor
- Use Mint
- Bee traps
- Bee spray
- Use essential oils
- Keep your surroundings clean
- Cover your body
- Cover your surrounding
Air movements
One simple way to keep flying insects away is by using a fan.
You have your ceiling fan inside the house, so keep it on.
For outdoor, you can have a stand fan.
Look at the wet floor
Look inside your house and lawn to see if the floor is wet.
And if it is, dry it out and in the future, always try to avoid unnecessary wetness on the floor.
You should also check to see if any pots have unused water. And if they do, make sure to get rid of the water.
Use Mint
Mint can act as a helping hand against sweat bees. Its scent not only repels sweat bees but also keeps many other insects away.
As a side note, you can also benefit your skin by rubbing mint balm, using mint oils, or growing mint plants.
Bee traps
Sweat bee trap is one of the traditional and effective ways to get rid of them.
Place it where you find them the most, then monitor the traps regularly and clean the bees immediately.
Bee spray
If you’re looking for ways to get rid of them quickly, the best thing you can do is use a bee spray, which you can easily get from a hardware store or any online retailer.
Be sure to check the instructions before using it, though, as bee sprays can be harmful to humans as well if used carelessly.
Use essential oils
Essential oils have numerous benefits and they can be used to repel insects naturally.
Feel free to use oils such as lemon, citronella, clove, rosemary, eucalyptus and peppermint.
Mix any of these oils with water in a spray bottle and use it indoors, for sure, but especially outdoors, where sweat bees are more common.
Keep your surroundings clean
Maintaining good hygiene effectively keeps the sweat bees away.
So take regular bath, clean your floor and walls, and keep garbage as far away from the area you live as possible.
Most importantly, try to dry out your sweat as quickly as possible.
Cover your body
While wearing full sleeves all day may not be the most comforting thing in the world, if sweat bees are abundant in your surroundings, it’s a temporary action you must take.
When you’re outdoors in an open environment, it can be challenging to get rid of them, especially if they appear in large numbers. So, it’s advisable to keep yourself fully covered until you get rid of them.
Cover your surrounding
When you experience sweat bees in mass, you may have no choice but to stay indoors with doors and windows closed.
Again, it’s not the most enjoyable experience, but it’s a necessary measure as long as their presence persists.
If you still want to enjoy outdoor activities, such as spending time on the lawn, consider building a plastic sitting area that can protect you from these insects.
The conclusion
Having a peaceful indoor and outdoor environment is important when it comes to dealing with sweat bees.
These bees, while not necessarily harmful, can disrupt our daily lives a huge amount.
By understanding what attracts sweat bees, such as human sweat, moisture, scents, and decaying matter, we can take proactive measures.
Maintaining cleanliness, both personally and in our surroundings help.
From using essential oils and fans to wearing clothes the right way and constructing protective spaces, we have different strategies at our disposal. So, hopefully, now you know how to keep sweat bees away!
Using the tips mentioned in this blog post, you can create a home and outdoor space where these bees are no longer a worry for you.
Stay clean, stay aware, and enjoy your surroundings without the buzz of worry.