Bees and Wasps | Posted: April 29, 2022

What Attracts Bees?

In recent years, environmental groups have been placing a heavy emphasis on the importance of protecting bees because they are excellent pollinators. Unfortunately, certain species of bees are endangered. Bees play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, but they’re sometimes feared because they have the ability to sting. Fortunately, the varieties of bees (honeybees and bumblebees) that do the most pollinating are not particularly aggressive. By becoming more educated about the different bee species and learning what attracts them, property owners can better manage and cultivate bee populations safely.

Whether you’re looking to find ways to attract bees to your bee-friendly garden or you’re looking for more information about how to keep bees away from your household, this article contains all the details you need to know about what attracts bees.

What attracts bees are flowers

What do bees eat?

Native bees drink nectar from flowering plants. Because of this, bees can sometimes be attracted to sweet, sugary foods and drinks. If you’ve ever attended an outdoor gathering during warm months, chances are, you’ve probably seen honeybees and bumblebees buzzing around unattended fruit and opened soft drinks. At picnics or cookouts, it’s best to keep potential food sources covered to avoid bees that may not be welcome.

Bees are attracted to flowering plants.

Bee populations are growing again thanks to the hard work of environmentalists, beekeepers, nurseries, and even hobbyist gardeners. Bees are most attracted to blue, red, yellow, and purple flowers. These bee-friendly plants are great to keep if you are interested in cultivating a bee population in your garden. Keep in mind that if you would like to attract bees to your garden, you should avoid harmful pesticides.

Flower icon

Herbs and Medicinal Plants
  • Lavender
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Catnip
  • Oregano
  • Echinacea
  • Lamb’s ear
  • Yarrow
Native Wildflowers
  • Clover
  • Purple coneflowers (rudbeckia)
  • Goldenrod
  • Redbuds
  • Penstemons
  • Foxgloves
  • Bells or Phacelias
  • Daisies
  • Asters
  • Beebalms (monarda)
Annuals
  • Verbena
  • Zinnias
  • Sunflowers
  • Black-eyed Susans

When are bees most active?

Because different species of plants bloom at various times, and temperatures vary from year to year, it can be hard to predict “bee season.” That said, bees start to become more active in early spring and stay busy throughout the warm months. Bees are overwintering pests, so once the weather starts to cool off in fall, you’ll likely notice a decrease in bee activity.

Carpenter bees are attracted to untreated wood.

Unlike honeybees and bumblebees, carpenter bees are more likely to hang out on a property for wood, not flowers. Carpenter bees will bore holes in trees and untreated wood structures. These bees can cause significant property damage and should be addressed by a pest control professional.

Learn more about carpenter bees.

Learn More

Concerned you have a bee problem?

Here at Dodson Pest Control, we do everything we can to manage bee problems in a way that isn’t harmful to these pollinating insects. Unfortunately, there are some occasions when bees can be dangerous. People can be allergic to bee stings, and in those cases, hospitalization may be required. In the event that a bee colony or beehive needs to be relocated, we are here to help. Our pest control experts can safely relocate bees.

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