Understanding the Beekeeping Suit
One of the biggest concerns most people seem to have when it comes to getting started in beekeeping is their fear of being stung. More than this however, it is the thought of being stung multiple times that raises the biggest concern. Most are aware that they can buy a beekeeping suit to protect them while they are harvesting their honey and working with their hives. What they are not aware of is that there are different types of suits and that some are far more effective than others.
While it might seem to be rather obvious, before you consider getting into beekeeping, you need to find out if you are allergic to bee stings. A large percentage of people are and while this does not necessarily mean that you cannot enjoy this fascinating hobby, it does mean you will need to take extra care to pick a complete set of protective gear including a beekeeping suit and the rest of the protective gear.
Start with the Right Suit
There are many different brands of beekeeping suits on the market; you will find that the big difference lies in whether you buy one that is loose fitting and lightweight or the older style that is somewhat heavier and made of several layers designed to keep you from getting stung. Both of these designs work very well. The one most important thing you must remember is that no matter what type of suit you decide to buy, none of them come with a 100% guarantee that you are not going to get stung.
The most commonly used beekeeping suit today is the lightweight lose fitting one piece jumpsuit style. Made from lightweight cotton or nylon, the idea of this suit is that is designed to fit loosely enough that the stinger will not be able to reach your skin. Because the material is much thinner, you do not have to worry about overheating. Since the neck, cuffs and pant legs are designed to be sealed to prevent bees from entering your suit, all of your body heat is going to remain inside the suit and lightweight materials make a much better choice.
Bees are Not Color Blind
When you look at all the different beekeeping suits the one thing that you will notice is that they are all made in either white or very light colors. You might think that this is to allow you to see the bees that are on your suit or to make it easier to see any stingers that get stuck the fabric or even simply because you are handling a food product. None of these would be the correct answer, the light color and very smooth materials are chosen because bees associate darker colors and rough materials with their natural enemies such as skunks and bears.
What does this have to do with you? Darker colors make bees far more aggressive and can put you at risk for being attacked by a swarm, which is the way in which bees will act in the wild to protect their hive and their queen. A lighter color is still no guarantee that you will not be attacked; it simply reduces the risk significantly.
A Proper Fit and the Extras You Will Need
In order for you to be able to enjoy the hobby of beekeeping in relative safety, your suit must fit properly and be designed in such a way as to keep the bees from getting inside. This means that your best bet is a one piece jumpsuit style beekeeping suit that has elastic at the wrists, zippers or Velcro at the ankles and Velcro around the neck where your veil can be attached. The sole intent is to eliminate any possible chance that even a single bee can get inside your suit and sting you.
Beyond the suit you are going to need to use a beekeeping hat and veil. There are several different styles and you should pick the one that is most comfortable for you. The hood or hat should provide a space between it and your scalp to prevent stings and the rest will be a fine mesh that is attached via Velcro to your suit provided a complete barrier to the bees. Be prepared however, to see many bees attacking the mesh as the darker color tends to attract them, just remember they cannot get through to your face.
Lastly most professional beekeepers recommend that you wear a pair of leather boots that are tall enough to go under the pant legs of your suit and a pair of stout leather gloves that fit inside the sleeves. When you approach your hobby properly dressed and prepared, you reduce the possibility of being stung to a very small possibility and can go on to enjoy it without any fear.