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Homemade Bee Killer
Homemade Bee Killer. The droning buzz of a bee flying past your head can trigger an instinctive flinch when you are outside enjoying your garden or your yard. If bees are interfering with your ability to enjoy the great outdoors, you can protect yourself and your family by creating homemade bee killer and keeping it handy when you are outside.
The droning buzz of a bee flying past your head can trigger an instinctive flinch when you are outside enjoying your garden or your yard. If bees are interfering with your ability to enjoy the great outdoors, you can protect yourself and your family by creating homemade bee killer and keeping it handy when you are outside.
Problems
Bees are usually beneficial insects, pollinating plants in your garden and throughout your neighborhood. Most bees are not aggressive, and the usual rule of thumb is to leave them alone and they will return the favor. If you are hosting an outdoor gathering, though, bees are a potential distraction. Sometimes bees will swarm in your yard in greater-than-normal numbers, especially when ground bees search for mates.
Creation
To make your own bee killer, start with a few fresh hot peppers. Cut them up until you have about a cup of them. Put them, including the seeds and skin, in a bowl. Pour a pint of boiling water over them, and let the mixture cool overnight. In the morning, pour it into a spray bottle. Add a few squirts of liquid dish soap to the bottle and shake it to thoroughly mix the dish soap throughout the solution.
Application
The homemade solution kills bees on contact. Hot peppers contain a compound called capsaicin. It burns bees and kills them when they come in direct contact with it. Dish soap contains compounds that allow it to penetrate the soft body of bee, poisoning it. The dish soap also helps the capsaicin to penetrate a bee's body, increasing contact and making it a more effective killer. Spray the solution directly onto a problem bee to kill it.
Considerations
The capsaicin that kills bees can cause burning sensations on your skin or in your eyes if you are not careful. When cutting up the peppers, wear gloves to protect yourself. Do not spray the bee killer at another person. Avoid spraying it into the wind, as it could blow back into your face. This bee-killing solution will also kill wasps and other insects. Avoid spraying it too thickly on plants. Dish soap can damage the waxy coating on a plant's leaves, interfering with its abilities to create nutrients.
