Updated On

June 14, 2024

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    Looking for the best bee killer sprays? Then you’re in the right place!

    In this Today’s Homeowner product review you can expect to learn:

    • Common ingredients in most over-the-counter sprays
    • How the sprays should be used
    • When and where to spray for maximum results
    • And the other products we reviewed in this guide
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    What Are the Best Bee Sprays?

    In the below sections we break down each of our product recommendations in a little more detail.

    1. Spectracide Ground Bee and Wasp Spray (the best of the best)
    2. BASF PT Wasp-Freeze
    3. Spectracide Bug Stop

    1) Spectracide Ground Bee and Wasp Spray

    This is another Spectracide product designed to be used outside, specifically for getting rid of ground bees. The spray comes out as a foam that can sink into ground tunnels and hives, killing bees in contact.

    One of the benefits of this product is that it comes with an extension tube to reach deeper into ground bee tunnels. The spray and foam do not hurt grass or shrubs and should also work on wasps and yellow jackets.

    I recommend this product to people who struggle with ground bee populations and would like something easy to use and reliable. The container includes enough for multiple uses.

    The spray becomes a foam to reach into ground bee homes
    The spray can includes many uses
    The product kills on contact

    2) BASF PT Wasp-Freeze

    PT Wasp-Freeze insecticide spray eliminates bee and wasp nests with one treatment application. It’s specially formulated to spray up to 15 feet, protecting the operator from being stung. It also provides instant knockdown to eliminate the need for follow-up treatments.

    This powerful liquid formula knocks down nests up to 30 inches in diameter, and it won’t stain surfaces such as brick, siding, or stucco

    Fast-acting
    Sprays up to 15 feet
    Powerful knockdown formula
    Won’t stain most surfaces

    3) Spectracide Bug Stop

    Spectracide Bug Stop is an indoor and outdoor bee killer which should last for multiple weeks. Unlike a lot of sprays, this one is used directly on the insects instead of on hives or nearby surfaces.

    This bee killer is non-staining and takes about 10-20 minutes to work accurately. The odor is a bit strong and the spray does not work on similar flying insects such as yellow jackets, wasps, or hornets.

    I recommend the Spectracide Bug Stop to individuals who frequently find bees inside of their homes.

    The spray works quickly and doesn’t stain
    The product lasts for up to 12 weeks
    The spray works like it claims and can be used indoor and outdoors

    What Are Bee Sprays?

    Bees are commonly seen in the spring and summer, flying around flowers and pollinating plants. However, they can also be a massive menace, especially since they can sting when disturbed. Here is where bee sprays come in.

    A bee spray is usually a pesticide designed to kill troublesome bees that lurk around humans and their property.

    The majority of bee-killing sprays are designed to target ground bees since they are numerous and one of the biggest pest problems encountered in the United States. You can find ground bees everywhere, From Hollywood, California to Hollywood, FL, then on up to Evansville, IN, and on into Canada. In fact, 70% of the 20,000 bee species in the world live in the ground!

    The term, “ground bee” is just a catch-all phrase used to describe any type of insect that looks like a bee and lives in the ground, so don’t get too confused with the terminology.

    What Ingredients Are Used in Bee Sprays?

    Most bee sprays use pyrethrins or permethrins, powerful pesticides found in most pest control sprays. A pyrethrin is a pesticide made from the chrysanthemum flower. They kill bees by overworking the insect’s nervous system, leading to paralysis and eventual death.

    A permethrin is basically synthetic pyrethrin that mimics the effects of the chrysanthemum flower Permethrins tend to be stabler and easier to use than natural pyrethrin, making them a popular choice in bee killers.

    What Are the Risks of Bee-Killing Sprays?

    As with any pesticide, bee-killing sprays come with the risk of poisoning or making humans and animals sick. The spray should be kept away from areas where children and pets might go. The user needs to wear protection like goggles, gloves, and a breathing mask for full safety.

    Inhaling or ingesting pyrethrins or permethrins can lead to nausea, discomfort, and even death. Thankfully, permethrins do not absorb through the skin easily, so inhalation is the main threat.

    Some bee-killing sprays might also kill other bugs like spiders, wasps, beetles, and centipedes.

    Stinging Insect Warning: We highly recommend first consulting with a local exterminator before using sprays or any other method to control bees, wasps, and any other stinging insect. Improper use can and will endanger you and your family. Use our local exterminator search tool to get a couple of free quotes so you can begin the removal process.


    Featured Video: Watch How to Safely Use Wasp & Bee Spray On a Hive That’s 20 Feet In the Air


    How to Properly Use a Bee Spray?

    There are a couple of different ways to use a spray and all of them require protection. Protection from the pesticide use as well as the insect itself.

    If you have something to cover your eyes, hands, nose, and mouth (like a respirator) you should be in good shape for your bee removal job.

    When actually using the spray your goal should be to reach the nest and more importantly, the queen.

    Often inexperienced homeowners will simply spray the entrance way to the nest, rather then the nest itself resulting in an agitated bee population.

    Bad news.

    Another thing NOT to do is completely close offor plug the entrance way to the nests in hopes that will starve them and kill them. If you have carpenter bees, chances are fairly good that they will chew there way out and continue own unimpeded.

    Most sprays come in easy to use spray aerosol canisters. Take full advantage of the extending nozzle to ensure you spray from a safe distance

    Read Also: How to pick the best respirator for insecticides?

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    How Long Should the Spray Last?

    Some sprays have ingredients that will persistent as a residual and continue to kill after the initial application. This is important because you want the bees to be affected by the treatment if they were not there

    The majority of bee sprays last between 2-6 weeks. People who have heavily infested yards or properties will need to use the spray more often in order to deal with the bee population.

    Where and When To Spray?

    The best time to spray for bees is at night when the most of the bees are reluctant to fly and and defend the nest and most of the colony will be present for the spraying.

    As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest mistakes most homeowners make is spraying an area that “looks like” the nest but is actually just a passageway the colony uses to go in and out of the actual nest.

    Another mistake is spraying during the day and getting stung.

    If you’d rather leave this job to the pros, then click one of the buttons below to get connected with a local pest control expert.

    Editorial Contributors
    avatar for Ed Spicer

    Ed Spicer

    Ed has been working in the pest control industry for years helping 1,000's of homeowners navigate the world of insect and rodent management.

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