The sudden buzzing of a bee landing on exposed skin or hovering near your head often causes confusion and panic. This behavior is typically not a sign of aggression; instead, it is a focused search for resources or a simple case of mistaken identity. Understanding the insect’s motivation is the first step toward comfortable coexistence. Bees and other stinging insects that land on people are generally just trying to fulfill a fundamental biological need.
Identifying the Culprit
Accurately identifying the insect is the first step, as not all buzzing creatures are bees, and not all bees land for the same reason. Wasps, such as yellow jackets and hornets, have smooth, slender bodies with a narrow waist, and they tend to be aggressive scavengers. Bees, by contrast, are generally rounder and have a visibly hairy body, which helps them collect pollen.
A common culprit for landing on people is the sweat bee, a small, often metallic green or dark-colored member of the Halictidae family. Unlike the larger honeybee, which is typically mustard-yellow and brown, sweat bees are specifically attracted to human perspiration. They are solitary and non-aggressive, rarely stinging unless they are crushed or trapped against the skin. Identifying the insect provides context for why it is attracted to you, which dictates the best response.
Attraction Factors: Why Humans are Appealing
The most significant factor drawing certain bees to humans is the need for salt and moisture, which are often scarce in a bee’s typical diet of nectar. Sweat bees, in particular, are drawn to human perspiration and tears because they are rich sources of sodium and essential minerals. This behavior is opportunistic foraging, where the bee uses salty secretions on the skin to supplement its diet.
Humans can also inadvertently mimic floral cues that attract other bee species. Bright colors and patterned clothing, especially yellow, blue, or floral designs, can resemble large blossoms, causing a foraging bee to investigate. Strong fragrances from personal care products like perfumes, scented soaps, hairsprays, and lotions can contain chemical compounds that mimic the scent of flowers. A bee’s acute sense of smell, designed to locate distant flowers, can be misled by these synthetic floral scents, leading the insect to land to determine if a food source is present.
Understanding the Bee’s Intent
In most cases, a bee landing on a person is engaged in exploratory foraging and is not acting aggressively. For a solitary bee, like the sweat bee, the intent is purely nutritional, seeking the salts and moisture on the skin. For social bees, like honeybees, a landing away from the hive is usually a curious investigation of a perceived food source, such as a strong scent or bright color.
A defensive or aggressive situation, where a sting is likely, is usually confined to two scenarios. The first is when a bee is accidentally provoked, such as being swatted at, or when they are trapped or crushed against the skin. The second is when the insect is defending its nest or hive; a bee in this defensive mode will often bump a person’s head as a warning before escalating to a sting. Social bees, particularly honeybees, have barbed stingers and die after stinging a mammal, meaning they only sting as a last resort to protect the colony.
Simple Ways to Deter Landing
Minimizing your attractiveness involves reducing the resources and signals that draw bees in. Since sweat and salt are major attractants, wearing loose, breathable clothing can help wick away perspiration, making your skin less appealing to sweat bees. You can also minimize the use of heavily scented products, opting for unscented soaps, shampoos, and lotions, or avoiding floral-scented perfumes and colognes entirely.
Choosing white or light-colored, solid fabrics can reduce the visual signals that mimic flowers. If a bee lands on you, the most important action is to remain calm and avoid sudden movements, as swatting or flailing is a direct provocation. The bee will usually fly away once it determines you are not a food source, but if necessary, you can gently and slowly brush the insect off your skin.