Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Ben Framed on January 27, 2023, 05:33:55 pm
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We are having an interesting conversation on another topic about washing bee suits.
I am reminded of a young lady in Texas who I have never seen wear anything for sting protection while viewing a few of her YouTube videos featuring cutouts and Saving The Bees. I have watched many of JPs videos where he and Schawee rarely wear sting protection. Now we are talking wild bees!
I sometimes wear protection, and always will when I feel it necessary. What about you? What are your experiences when it comes to sting protection and bees?
Phillip
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Hi Phillip
It comes down to a simple, individual choice. I have some lovely quiet bees that would rarely sting and are an absolute delight to work. On a cooler, overcast day or during a dearth their temperament can change. If we know our bees, we can quite often predict their behaviour but not always. Not wearing a veil obviously increases the risk of being stung on the face, especially around the eye. Some people are prepared to take the chance, others are not. Each to their own. It doesn?t really matter either way. It?s what you feel comfortable with. As we are on the topic of what we wear, have any of you found that dark items of clothing cause issues? If I wear dark sunglasses, they seam to be a focal point for any bees that are upset. Navy blue or black socks also appear to act as bee magnets if they are visible.
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95 percent of the time I don?t wear any protection. I will when the weather is not good or if I know a certain hive is rough to handle. When doing cutouts I test the bees before smoking them to see their reaction. First I get close and eventually I pet the guard bees. If I don?t get stung then I don?t use protection. If during a cutout I get more than 20 stings, I will put a jacket on. I usually end up removing it when I get more than half of the hive removed. They usually give up defending the hive at that point. I always make sure I have one available in case I do need one.
Jim Altmiller
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I agree with Les, everyone should wear what is comfortable for them, both physically and psychologically. For me that is ALWAYS a veil, even if I'm just opening up the top of a hive to add feed in the winter. In my opinion, it's just not worth the risk to the eyes to not wear one. For normal inspection work I always wear a full suit and nitrile gloves, since I get bad sting reactions. It's not only to just avoid getting stung as much as possible, but I also just feel more at ease knowing I'm protected.
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At this point I'm not aware of any of my hives being defensive but I ALWAYS wear a beesuit and anybody "helping" me will also wear a spare one I have.
Often people will comment about the " why" as the bees are hardly reacting to us working them.
Simple - you only need to drop a frame or make a minor mistake to stir them up.
It takes me minutes to put on my suit.
I wear thin gloves most of the time. Bees can sting through them but they give me a good grip and are easy to wash.
As has been said - whatever works for you.
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I have several times received dozens of stings in a second. Things can go bad quickly and unpredictably. One time I stepped in a hole in the beeyard (gopher?) and I dropped a brood box. It disintegrated. 10,000 or more bees in the air in less than a second. Luckily I had some protection on. One time I was brushing bees into a box that had clustered on the stump of the tree they lived in which had snapped off in a storm. I had a jacket on, but it was plastered to my back with sweat and I got 20 or more stings on my back in about a half a second. Luckily I had a veil. I once brushed a swarm off at the top of a 20 ft ladder and it went down the back of my shirt. Funny how a swarm swings before it lets go... Again 20 or more stings in just a second. You're not just wearing protective equipment for the predictable things...
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I suit up based on what I plan to do. Removals I will start with a jacket and veil, if they are fairly calm I will often just use a veil. If I'm getting down into brood nests and making manipulations I will also wear my jacket and probably a pair of jeans. If it's just weekly inspections during the spring and summer flows, I'm usually in shorts and a veil, and sometimes a t-shirt. You will likely never see me without a veil, I use my eyes for too many other important things.
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"I use my eyes for too many other important things."
I share your concern Austin. Though many times I do not wear the veil but when the thought hits me. I will use it. lol TheHoneyPump told us some time back of being stung in the eyeball itself and described the Kaleidoscope effect. Fortunately for him, his associate removed the stinger promptly.
From there I searched and found a video of a bee stinger removal which was embedded in an eyeball and apparently had been there for a while. Not a pretty sight...
Phillip
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I suit up based on what I plan to do. Removals I will start with a jacket and veil, if they are fairly calm I will often just use a veil. If I'm getting down into brood nests and making manipulations I will also wear my jacket and probably a pair of jeans. If it's just weekly inspections during the spring and summer flows, I'm usually in shorts and a veil, and sometimes a t-shirt. You will likely never see me without a veil, I use my eyes for too many other important things.
Same here. But I ALWAYS wear a veil - without exception. Thick, 8mil nitrile gloves, mostly to keep my hands clean. This thickness will prevent stings in general - but not when you pick something up with a bee on it. T-shirt in summer. ALWAYS long pants.
Cutouts: I start with a full bee jacket. May end up with just a veil. Helpers are always suited with jackets. Or I provide a veil with instructions to wear long shirts and pants.
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If you've never experienced it yet, just wait until you have a bee crawl into your ear. You'll be thinking about that every time you don't wear a veil...
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If you've never experienced it yet, just wait until you have a bee crawl into your ear. You'll be thinking about that every time you don't wear a veil...
LOL Brings back memories! Check out this topic:
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=53348.msg481018#msg481018
Phillip
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I've had them in my ears, up my nose, even stung on my tongue. I still don't wear a veil until after about the tenth sting. I do removals shirtless and without veil. The worst sting I have ever had was in the corner of my eye, right in the tear duct. Believe me, you will cry for awhile with that one.
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I haven't had the tear duct stung. Inside the nose is pretty painful and made my eyes water a lot...
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All this is reinforcing my commitment to veils. :shocked: :grin:
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I almost always wear a veil. Emphasis on the "almost" After 49 years of keeping bees there were bound to be times that I didn't..
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This is definitely a case of ""do as I say, not as I do"". If you are uncomfortable getting stung, or are uncomfortable working bees bare faced, absolutely wear protection. If I don't get a few stings when working them, I will pick up a couple or more and sting myself when I'm done for my arthritis.
As I've said many times, beekeeping is very personal. Everyone should develop their own style, and most important, keep it fun and enjoyable.
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"I use my eyes for too many other important things."
I share your concern Austin. Though many times I do not wear the veil but when the thought hits me. I will use it.
I agree, sometimes I think its such a hassle. But at the end of the day I really don't enjoy being stung in the face. If its near my eye I usually swell up a little.
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I rarely use protection but if you are working 🐝 with me that doesn?t mean that you shouldn?t wear protection. My problem is when I don?t get stung, I have problems, specially my left shoulder. I have had very few stings this winter and my shoulder has been acting up more than ever. If I get stung on a regular basis, it doesn?t bother me at all.
Jim Altmiller
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iddee
""do as I say, not as I do""
I hear you iddee. I am with you and don't mind so much getting stung. Its the shot to the eyeball itself. lol I didn't think much about it until TheHoneyPump gave the heads up.
Even still I take the chance many times. Especially when I am working them in a hurry and they are calm.
One thing is for sure when one makes her mind up to let you have it, there's not much that can be done with full hands. Man they are fast with their strike and zap kamikaze attacks!
:cheesy: :grin:
Phillip
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I rarely use protection but if you are working 🐝 with me that doesn?t mean that you shouldn?t wear protection. My problem is when I don?t get stung, I have problems, specially my left shoulder. I have had very few stings this winter and my shoulder has been acting up more than ever. If I get stung on a regular basis, it doesn?t bother me at all.
Jim Altmiller
Thanks Jim, Since we are on the good subject there is a beekeeper in Florida that makes Youtube videos which says he had skin cancer on his arm. He collected ten bees and had them sting him on the skin cancer and all around it. I can't remember the schedule but he says when he went back for another biopsy it came negative. True or False I do not know.... 🤷♂️
Phillip
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Ben,
I have mentioned this before and I?ll say it again.
I have a good friend who, about 20 years ago was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Her husband left her, she lost her job and house. She was so depressed, she wanted to end her life. She knew she was allergic to bees and bought a hive. The bee stings saved her. She gets a sting every day to keep the cancer under control. She is still alive and well today.
Jim Altmiller
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Ben,
I have mentioned this before and I?ll say it again.
I have a good friend who, about 20 years ago was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Her husband left her, she lost her job and house. She was so depressed, she wanted to end her life. She knew she was allergic to bees and bought a hive. The bee stings saved her. She gets a sting every day to keep the cancer under control. She is still alive and well today.
Jim Altmiller
Wow! That is amazing! I love hearing these encouraging testimonies!
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More about the benefits of honey are being discussed on the topic: "Honey - it's not just for breakfast anymore..."
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=45761.msg395307#msg395307
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Ben,
I have mentioned this before and I?ll say it again.
I have a good friend who, about 20 years ago was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Her husband left her, she lost her job and house. She was so depressed, she wanted to end her life. She knew she was allergic to bees and bought a hive. The bee stings saved her. She gets a sting every day to keep the cancer under control. She is still alive and well today.
Jim Altmiller
This is one of my favorite beekeeping stories I've ever heard.
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I've only been keeping for a year now, so I'm still rather new to it all. That said I've never worn any protection except some rubber coated gloves. They definitely don't protect against stings but they grip well and breath better than nitrile gloves. I've received a few stings, sometimes a few, sometimes none. The inside the nose one rings true @Michael Bush, your eyes definitely water from that one
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I like getting the occasional sting. There is something invigorating about it. I do not like getting a lot of them all at once...
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I like getting the occasional sting. There is something invigorating about it. I do not like getting a lot of them all at once...
I share those same sentiments Michael