Cart Cart Checkout (0)

Everything You Need To Know For Total Rodent Control

Diatomaceous Earth: The Secret Weapon in Your Pest Control Arsenal

Graveyard Gardening: Using Diatomaceous Earth to Revive Soil

Homemade Halloween Decor: Cauldron Concoctions

How to protect plants during the colder season: Mummify

Spooky Soil Secrets: Unearth the Magic of Diatomaceous Earth for Halloween Gardens

Top 10 Beginner Gardening Tips

Spring Detox Guide: Smoothie Recipes

Uses For Diatomaceous Earth – Diatomaceous Earth For Insect Control

Benefits of Starting Your Own Beekeeping Garden

Does Diatomaceous Earth Kill Bed Bugs?

How to Apply Diatomaceous Earth for Cockroaches

Natural Indoor Ant Treatment

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth: Human Benefits

Diatomaceous Earth: Natural Bed Bug Control

DE Detox: Cleanse Your Body with Diatomaceous Earth

How to Chase Away Rodents with Diatomaceous Earth

Natural Flea Control for Cats with Diatomaceous Earth

Natural Flea Control for Dogs with Diatomaceous Earth

Does Diatomaceous Earth Have Side Effects?

Diatomaceous Earth for Cats

The Difference Between DE and Bentonite Clay

Health Benefits of Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth: The Natural Cockroach Killer

Diatomaceous Earth for Dogs

Can Diatomaceous Earth Help Me Lose Weight?

Beginner's Guide to Diatomaceous Earth

Why Home Remedies for Bed Bugs Are Your Only Option

Diatomaceous Earth Benefits Your Hair, Skin, and Nails

Using DE to Polish Copper Bottomed Pots and Pans

Keep Silverware from Tarnishing

Diatomaceous Earth: Deodorizing The Bread Box

Diatomaceous Earth: Elk Feed Additive

Polishing and Cleaning Silver and Pewter Utensils

Polishing and Cleaning Utensils (Non-Silver)

Diatomaceous Earth: Deodorizing Your Vacuum

Diatomaceous Earth: Goose Feed Additive

Diatomaceous Earth: Deodorizing Shoes

Diatomaceous Earth: Bison Feed Additive

Diatomaceous Earth: Polish Out Hard Water Stains

How Do You Spell Diatomaceous Earth?

Diatomaceous Earth: Deodorizing Trash Cans

Diatomaceous Earth: Duck Feed Additive

How Our Diatomaceous Earth Is Going Green

Deodorizing Cupboards, Drawers, and Closets with DE

Pesticides and Dogs Don't Mix

The Many Names of Diatomaceous Earth

Wilcox 3 Quart Duster

Dustin-Mizer Duster

JT Eaton Duster

How to Apply Diatomaceous Earth without Hurting Bees

honey-bee

Can diatomaceous earth harm bees the way it harms other insects? We get this important question a lot. The short answer is yes; it can harm them. But it doesn't have to. It is possible to apply diatomaceous earth for pest control and not affect the bees.

As you might already know, DE is effective on insects because of their exoskeletons. DE scratches off and absorbs the waxy, oily coating on an insect's exoskeleton, which eventually leads to death by dehydration. DE can have this effect on bees too; however, bees have at least one advantage–possibly two–that protect them from the effects of DE.

The first and most obvious advantage bees have is that they are flying insects. For DE to take effect, an insect has to crawl through it. Because bees are mainly airborne, they are far less likely to come into contact with DE than other pests, such as ants, cockroaches, and bed bugs. So applying on soil, concrete, and other areas level to the ground shouldn't be a problem. It's also good to apply to plants as long as you follow these precautions:

  • Don't apply DE on blossoms or on foliage immediately surrounding them.
  • Only apply on the stems and leaves of plants if you don't see bees crawling on them.
  • If bees start crawling on the stems and leaves of a plant you have already applied DE on, spray it off with water.
  • Apply early in the morning or late in the evening when bees are less active. This will help bees avoid contact with clouds of DE dust that may puff up as you apply.

Bees also seem to have some natural defenses that protect them from DE. Tui Rose, the author of Going Green Using Diatomaceous Earth How-to Tips, says this: "When Diatomaceous Earth is applied to crops or orchards, the honey bee tends to protect themselves by simply avoiding those blossoms already treated with DE. However, if DE does get on a bee's body, it is covered with slick hairs that are able to help prevent dehydration of body fluids. Then the bee simply vibrates its wings rapidly to remove the dust and protect itself."

Bees are pretty good at avoiding DE and removing it from their bodies. Still, we urge you to be cautious and keep it as far away from bees as possible.

So, can diatomaceous earth harm bees? Yes, but they are not as vulnerable to it as other pests. And as long as you apply it carefully, you can use DE as a pesticide without harming them. By using DE, you will also replace toxic chemicals with an organic alternative, which will not only benefit bees but the environment as well.