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Tick Prevention for Beekeepers

This article describes tick-borne illnesses and when beekeepers are at risk. It describes the various ways beekeepers can prevent themselves from being bitten by a tick.

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Updated:

April 7, 2025

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What Are Tick-borne Diseases?

Tick-borne diseases are diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens spread through tick bites. There are many different tick species present in the Northeast, and different species of ticks can cause different diseases. Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, and it is estimated that up to 476,000 people are treated for Lyme disease in the United States each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025). Lyme disease is caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi), which is spread by the blacklegged or deer tick. However, while the most common, Lyme disease is not the only disease caused by the bite of a blacklegged tick. Other blacklegged tick-borne diseases include anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and deer tick/Powassan virus.

Beyond the blacklegged tick, other common tick species in the Northeast include the American dog tick and lone star tick. The American dog tick can spread the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, and the lone star tick is associated with several other conditions, including ehrlichiosis and alpha-gal syndrome.

Figure 1. Beekeeping season and tick activity in Pennsylvania. Different species and life stages of ticks are active and looking for animals to bite during different times of the year, including during beekeeping season. Photo: Emily Struckhoff, Penn State

When am I At Risk?

The majority of tick species are most active in the spring months. In Pennsylvania, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, and blacklegged tick nymphs are most commonly found "questing" (or looking for an animal on which to feed) from early spring through summer (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection [PA-DEP], n.d.-a, n.d.-c). Alternatively, adult blacklegged ticks are most commonly found in the fall (PA-DEP, n.d.-b). Risk of being bitten by a tick will be higher during these times of the year (Figure 1).

Different tick species also live in different environments. The blacklegged tick is found in forested areas throughout the Northeast and upper Midwest, especially in places with lots of leaf litter, brush/shrubbery, and canopy cover. Other tick species, like the American dog tick and lone star tick, may be found in more open environments with tall grasses, such as pastures or prairies.

How Can I Avoid Ticks When I am Beekeeping?

Dress Properly.

When you visit the beeyard, many things that help you to avoid stings will also help you to avoid ticks. Wear closed-toed shoes and long pants. Tuck your pants into your socks. Consider wearing tall boots or adding gaiters to your wardrobe. Tuck your shirt into your pants, too. Anything you can do to prevent ticks from getting onto your skin will be very helpful. Light-colored clothing, such as a bee suit, is helpful because it contrasts with the dark colors of ticks so they are easier to spot and remove.

Use Repellents.

Permethrin treatments on the bee suit, pants, and socks only affect arthropods that directly contact the treated surface, so only a small number of bees are likely to encounter the repellent during routine colony management. DEET is a strong irritant and might elicit a defensive response in the bees that encounter it. Other repellents, such as picardin and oil of lemon eucalyptus, can be effective at preventing tick bites (CDC, 2024). For more information about insect repellents and finding a repellent that works for you, visit the EPA's repellent guide and search tool.

Manage the Landscape.

Ticks generally favor tall grass (especially American dog ticks and lone star ticks) or forested/leaf litter habitat (blacklegged tick/deer tick); if the bee yard and high-traffic areas are kept mowed short, they'll be less favorable to both ticks and to the animals that serve as hosts (mice, deer, etc.).

Manage Ticks.

Products that can be sprayed or misted to kill ticks are broad-spectrum and kill on contact. This includes both conventional synthetic insecticides/acaricides and botanical/biorational products. Whether or not this is a threat to bees depends on whether blooming vegetation or other resources (water, resin) are present to attract bees into the treated area. Water-activated granular insecticides (not granular baits) are a safer option around honey bees because the product is applied to the ground.

Manage Tick Hosts.

Exclude deer from the property with tall fences and/or repellents, minimize rodent habitat/food sources (e.g., clean up fallen crab apples before animals do), or use tick tubes or tick control boxes to clear ticks from rodents.

Do a Tick Check.

While all of these steps can help prevent tick bites, don't expect any of these to give 100% tick protection. Check the surface of your clothing before you leave the apiary. Then, check your body thoroughly when you arrive at home. Remove your clothing and place it directly into the dryer to avoid ticks crawling out of the laundry and onto family members. Placing your clothing in the dryer on high heat for ten minutes after coming indoors will kill any ticks that may have hitchhiked inside. In a well-lit area, have someone look at all the surfaces of your body for ticks. Take a shower, and remove any attached ticks as soon as possible.

By spending time outdoors during the spring and summer beekeeping, you may be at risk of tick bites and tick-borne diseases. However, by taking these steps, you can reduce your chances of being bitten when out in the beeyard.