Help! Munching bees!

[Bongo]

Hi - I really hope someone can help me.

I am looking for a bee deterrant for the glazing strips in my windows and patio doors (the plasticy cushion bit that holds and protects the glass in the wooden frames) which appear to be of interest to increasing number of bees.
They are chewing it, rolling it into balls and carrying them on their back legs. As you would expect it, their numbers are increasing daily along with the damage they are doing.

What can I apply that would put them off without harming them?

Thanks
Emma

[Richard Bache]

hmmm, tricky! I assume they are honeybees and I suspect they may be looking for resins to fill in the cracks in their hives (called propolis). If they don't have access to good resinous trees they will often collect other sticky things such as tar. I presume the window selant is still quite sticky? Would it be difficult to prevent the bees from having access to the sealant (such as using some sort of tape over the top)? If the sealant is going to get dryer, you only need a short-term solution. I don't know if anyone else has any better ideas....

[Bongo]

Many thanks for your prompt response Richard and you assume right, they are lovely honey bees and the plastic is extremely flexible, particularly in this warm weather. What you say makes a lot of sense because the majority of the bees are on the warmest windows!

At the moment we are taping the strips with masking tape to prevent their access so I'm looking for a longer term solution - a deterrant I can apply, an alternative and better propolis substitute????

Thanks
Emma

[Richard Bache]

It might be a bit of a long-shot, but you could plant a tree that produces plenty of resin nearby. Horse-Chesnuts are supposed to be good as the bees collect the 'stickyness' off the buds. A lot of conifers also produce plenty of resin that bees will collect, especially things like firs/spruces. Like I say, its a bit of a long shot, but I'm guessing there aren't too many trees like that nearby...
Some strains of honeybee collect more propolis than others, so you could suggest to any local beekeepers to get some different bees, although I don't think that will be a very fruitful exercise!!!:rolleyes:

[whiskywill]

They are chewing it, rolling it into balls and carrying them on their back legs.

Do bees carry the ingredients for propolis on their legs?

[whiskywill]

They are chewing it, rolling it into balls and carrying them on their back legs.

Do bees carry the ingredients for propolis on their legs?

[Richard Bache]

yes, bees do carry propolis on their rear legs, in much the same way as pollen. You will notice that it is shiny and red/orange.:)

[Chris]

See if they prefer a lump of plasticene or Blu-Tak. Then they should glue up their beehive a treat!

[G4WIL]

Maybe a citronella wipe around the area would deter them(worth a try). However I strongly recommend that you remove all traces of the stuff before going anywhere near your hives :mad: !.

John Wilkinson

[Steve Rose]

It might be worth trying painting the glazing strips with benzaldehyde. It smells strongly of almonds and the bees are repelled by it. In its pure form it is poisonous by I think in low concentrations it is used as an artificial food flavouring but I am not absolutely sure. If you try it I would test a small area first in case in reacts with your glazing sealer.

If anything goes wrong please don't blame me as I have never tried it like this but I know for certain that bees move away from its fumes.

Steve

[Bongo]

Many thanks for all your suggestions. I'll let you know how I get on - I'm sure I've got some citronella and blu tack for starters.

Emma