If a label reads, "Use only in the evening when flying insects are not about," then homeowners and gardeners should do that, Wenning said. Ignoring the instructions is not only dangerous to pollinators but a violation of federal law.

A class of chemicals called neonicotinoids are a major cause of pollinator decline, according to the Center for Food Safety. A list of common household and gardening products containing those harmful chemicals can be found on centerforfoodsafety.org, and information on safe pesticide use can be found on epa.gov.

Helping bees does not stop with pesticides, however.

"We have so many yards, and we have (so much) grass," said Mark Kilty, president of the Heart of Illinois Beekeepers Association. "Well, grass is not a great crop for pollinators. If everybody would just take a 10-foot by 10-foot area of their yard or garden and just plant flowers and native flowers, it would help the pollinators a lot."

In April 2016, the Peoria City Council approved an ordinance that allowed registered beekeepers to keep beehives in the city limits. This falls in line with what many U.S. urban areas, from large cities like Chicago and New York to medium cities like Peoria, are doing with beekeeping-friendly ordinances.