What Is The Purpose Of Sweat Bees – Looking for a way to keep hoverflies (sweat flies) off you and your drinks, food and outdoor activities this fall?
When it comes to being one of the most annoying pests of the fall season, hoverflies, or sweat flies as they are more commonly known, are definitely high on the list! Small flying insects seem to invade any and all outdoor activities in the late summer and early fall. Especially those involving food, drink and people!
What Is The Purpose Of Sweat Bees
Although they are often known as sweat Bees, the “bee” part of their name is a bit misleading. One thing hoverflies can’t do is most bees can – and that’s sting. But even without the stinger, this little bee can still be quite the nuisance when you’re trying to enjoy the outdoors.
Sweat Bees Hi Res Stock Photography And Images
Hoverflies, or sweat flies as they are often called, love the salt from human sweat. Contrary to popular belief, they cannot sting.
As much as the word “bee” doesn’t fit his nickname, it’s ironic that the first word “sweats” does. This is because hoverflies are most attracted to salt. And as it happens, the amount of sodium in human sweat is much higher than that. So much so that hoverflies like to stay close for a taste.
Before you reach for the bee spray or the nearest can of insecticide, it’s important to know that not only are these flying insects harmless to humans, but they’re also incredibly valuable as pollinators. are important.
Hover bees are one of the few bee species that will work and pollinate any flower. Many other pollinators such as bees and butterflies will only work on a specific set of plants. And without the efforts of hoverflies, many wildflowers would not survive.
Beneficial Pollinators: Honey Bees And Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee
Because of this, keeping them around (but far apart of course) can actually be incredibly helpful for plants around your landscape. With that in mind, today’s article is about how to live with hoverflies – allowing them to survive – but your time outside in late summer and fall. Without waste!
So how do you learn to get along with hoverflies? The best way to success is to put a few simple steps in place that keep them far away from your space – but allow them to live and pollinate everywhere. The good news is that it’s easier to do than you think!
Peppermint tops the list when it comes to repelling hoverflies and keeping them out of your personal space. They just can’t stand the smell of mint. And where there is, they will not set up shop.
For patios, decks and outdoor dining areas, grow mint in pots and place on tables and around seating areas. It sounds simple and it is – a few pots of mint on an outdoor dining table will keep sweat flies off the table.
Sweat Bee (halictus Sp.)
Mint is actually easy to grow in pots and is drought and pest resistant. And if you need a little extra protection from sweat flies, you can simply crush a few leaves and rub them on your arms, legs, and exposed skin. Not only will you smell fresh mint – you’ll stop hoverflies from hovering in front of you!
Last but not least, peppermint sprays and essential oils will also work to repel sweat flies. Adding a few drops of peppermint oil to a diffuser and turning it on wherever you are outdoors can help keep hoverflies at bay. Product Affiliate Link: Pure Peppermint Oil
A final note on mint – it has the same anti-mosquito properties. It’s definitely a great way to keep summer’s most annoying pests away all together!
Want to stay cool and keep the hoverflies away at the same time? Then a fully housed external fan is the answer.
Sweat Bees: Diminutive And Diverse
Hoverflies are extremely light and cannot handle strong winds or drifting air. Because of this, a fan placed near an outdoor entertaining area is the best way to prevent hoverflies from flying near you.
Ceiling fans are also an excellent weapon against hoverflies. The downward push of the wind is too much for their tiny wings. A ceiling fan can be a great investment for an outdoor dining area on a covered porch – not only will it help keep sweat flies away, but it also works magic against mosquitoes!
We already know that mulching your flower beds can help kill weeds, retain soil moisture for your plants, and regulate soil temperature.
Mulching the soil in pots and containers is key in preventing hoverflies from making a home in them.
Bug Eric: Don’t Sweat ’em
Unlike other bee species that often live in colonies or in trees, hoverflies live in a single family unit in the ground. But again, because they are not the strongest of bees, they look for easy, empty ground to build their nests. And when the soil is covered in mulch – they move on.
To prevent weeds in flower beds, a four-inch thick coating of mulch is essential. But that same mulch is enough to deter nesting bees in flower beds right next to your outdoor spaces.
Another important area of bare soil to cover that is often overlooked are the pots and planters that sit on your patio. Again, a coating of mulch over the soil will help keep hoverflies from nesting where you enjoy your time outside.
Last but not least, the same “bare soil” concept applies to lawns. By mowing your lawn high, you help keep the soil from becoming bare. And in turn, this makes it harder for hoverflies to nest in the lawn.
Cutting Pesticide Use On Farms Doubles Abundance Of Wild Pollinators
It is best to keep your lawn mowed at least three to four inches. Not only will this protect you from nesting bees, but it will also keep your lawn greener, healthier, and more vibrant!
Here’s to keeping the hoverflies away. All, of course, while still allowing them to pollinate freely where you enjoy the outdoors! Happy Gardening – Jim and Mary.
As always, feel free to email us at [email protected] with comments, questions, or just say hello. You can sign up for our free email list in the Subscribe Now box in the middle of this article. Follow us on Facebook here: OWG Facebook. This article may contain affiliate links. During the heat of summer, we all sweat. Some insects find physical activity irresistible. These include sweat flies, various bees and butterflies. It is believed that the salts, minerals and other compounds in our sweat are essential for these insects, and are hard to find elsewhere. Although you may assume that an insect that lands on you intends to bite or sting, rest assured that these insects are harmless.
The solitary and semi-social bees in the Halictidae family are collectively known as “sweat bees” because of their habit of lapping up human sweat with their tiny “tongues”. They can tickle at most, but if you hit one absent-mindedly, it can really sting if it’s a female bee. Male bees lack a stinger.
Springfield Plateau: Pure Green Sweat Bee
Sweat flies come in a variety of sizes and colors, from the tiny brassy Lasioglossum species to the magnificent metallic Agapostemon species (and related genera). Members of the Helicus genus are medium-sized and brown or black in color with white belly bands. Almost all species build nests in soil, each female excavating her own burrow.
Further complicating the problem of identifying the various insects that seek your sweat is the fact that many bees in the family Syrphidae are colloquially and colloquially incorrectly called “sweat bees.” Seraphed flies are called “flower flies” here in the US and Canada, and “hoverflies” in Europe.
Like bees, they can be important pollinators of flowers, but this is most beneficial when they are young. Many flower fly larvae prey on aphids, which are major crop and garden pests. Thus, the more serf flies, the better, even if they want to drink your sweat.
Many other flies, including mostly blowflies (family Calliphoridae) and flesh flies (family Sarcophagidae) will also land on us. Even some tachinid flies (Tachinidae) will crawl around on bare hands and arms. They may not all be there for moisture or salts.
Sweat Bees — Texas Insect Identification Tools
Some of these bees may be males using us as a convenient place to defend their territory. They will periodically fly to chase competing males, or to chase passing females.
Some butterflies are known to require certain minerals to complete their life cycle. Typically, male butterflies congregate around mud pits, piles of urine or dung left by mammals, or even rotting carcasses, from which they obtain the nutrients they mate with. During the transfer of substances.
Although males with higher mineral content are more desirable to females.
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