Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: JP on January 15, 2009, 10:02:45 am
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You hear stories about color affecting bees. My take is, the bees don't care. Now, I'm not saying it is insignificant, no, but generally speaking, from my experiences around bees, unagitated bees simply can care less that you are there with a black shirt or a yellow one, whatever.
I wear dark blue and black shirts around them all the time and they pay no mind. So what I'm saying is, I do not for one second believe that "color" of any type is a trigger for bees to become aggressive and start stinging you or your black pet minature pony.
Once agitated, they may or may not hone in on a particular color, I don't know, but I believe the whole don't wear black around bees is far fetched.
My jacket and veil however are white. Anyone work their bees in colors other than white?
...JP
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JP I agree with you w/ calm bees I don't see color as a big problem. Now I have seen some pi***d off bees go after the darker colors and fly right by someone in white but again the guy in color (purple) was running so that probably didn't help either.
Keith
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Mine sure seem to zero in on my brown leather high top boots. I call them my little ankle biters
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Once agitated, they may or may not hone in on a particular color, I don't know, but I believe the whole don't wear black around bees is far fetched.
Tell that to my black lab who gets the short end of the stick all the time. I can be working in shorts and a t-shirt and she will be 20 feet away and get nailed. Perhaps in ideal weather conditions it doesn't matter, but if the bees are one bit ornery it seems to matter. I had a beagle that had scares on her ears from being stung as a puppy when I took here to the bee yard not thinking it would be an issue and she got stung up pretty bad before I could get her back in the truck. From that point on, unless the weather is near perfect and the bees are too busy to care, the dogs stay in the truck.
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JP I agree with you w/ calm bees I don't see color as a big problem. Now I have seen some pi***d off bees go after the darker colors and fly right by someone in white but again the guy in color (purple) was running so that probably didn't help either.
Keith
PURPLE? :shock:
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I tend to work them in just a veil and tshirt. Whatever color I have on that day. No issues so far, I keep my smoker handy tho.
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Dark colors are bad from what I have experienced and black dogs do get it every time.
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you have seen my royal blue bee suit! it is dark but i dont get stung any more with it than any other colors.
bailey
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Haven't noticed more or less stings/aggression based on color. I read or heard somewhere dark colors look like bears and bees have evolved to identify dark moving objects as threats.
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Haven't noticed more or less stings/aggression based on color. I read or heard somewhere dark colors look like bears and bees have evolved to identify dark moving objects as threats.
This has been my theory, imparted to me by my mentor way back when. Brown and Black on living moving creatures draws a responce from the bees because of eons of preditory behavior from animals having dark hides and/or hair.
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Of course, there are times that no matter what you wear, no stings will come your way. And sometimes, it does not matter what you wear, you will be stung.
But I seen bees focus, when agitated, on a grease spot on my pants, my wife used to wear a black bun scrunchy thing in her hair (good for a few laughs before she figured it out), and I had a friend help me who wore black socks who refuses to help me again. If they are looking to defend something, bees go after dark objects first. And I am sure if they start getting agitated, that wearing black would only compound the problem.
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Great to see feedback on this subject, keep the stories coming. Hey, I found out something peculiar about Bailey's dog this evening, but I insist he has to be the one to tell the story. He never even told me the story himself, so I need to hear it straight from the horse's mouth! ;)
...JP
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I had a black watchband they literally loved :evil:!
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I work the bees wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt frequently. I haven't noticed any difference. If they sting me, they usually go for the hands or head, neither of which are black.
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I generally wear whatever I have on. If the weather is good and the bees are calm I generally jut wear gloves and about 50% of the time a veil. I call it freestyle. I did get tagged in the eye last year so the freestyle option has become less attractive. I had a dinner party that night too and my eye was swollen shut. Had a bocce tournament too before dinner and the ol' depth perception was really sub-par. That said I dont wear black ever so I don't know about that but dark blue never seems to make a difference.
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Haven't noticed more or less stings/aggression based on color. I read or heard somewhere dark colors look like bears and bees have evolved to identify dark moving objects as threats.
This has been my theory, imparted to me by my mentor way back when. Brown and Black on living moving creatures draws a responce from the bees because of eons of preditory behavior from animals having dark hides and/or hair.
Brian, maybe that's where I read it! :-)
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I'm inclined to think color doesn't matter, but breath odor does. It seems that the girls tend to zero in on me if I have something on my breath, particularly if its sweet or pungent.
David
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I had a black watchband they literally loved :evil:!
Eweeeee!!! Yep, gotta agree on that one. I have been stung a few times on my hands, mostly when hurting the bees upon accident. But the most stings I get would have to be when I forget to take off my black VELCRO watch. I think that they see the fuzzy strap and for surely think it is some kind of monster coming to get them. They don't attack my blue jeans, that is a darkish colour. Beautiful day in this great life, health. Cindi
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JP I agree with you w/ calm bees I don't see color as a big problem. Now I have seen some pi***d off bees go after the darker colors and fly right by someone in white but again the guy in color (purple) was running so that probably didn't help either.
Keith
PURPLE? :shock:
LSU SHIRT AND HAT
GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!
Keith
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Eweeeee!!! Yep, gotta agree on that one. I have been stung a few times on my hands, mostly when hurting the bees upon accident. But the most stings I get would have to be when I forget to take off my black VELCRO watch. I think that they see the fuzzy strap and for surely think it is some kind of monster coming to get them. They don't attack my blue jeans, that is a darkish colour. Beautiful day in this great life, health. Cindi
Velcro watchbands absorb a lot of sweat. I wouldn't be surprised to find that they are more attracted to the odor than the color.
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My jacket is just a spring jacket, mostly light colors blue but some darker blue as well, that don't bother me.
I notice too that they will go for my face too...darker eyes, lips, etc that stand out on my white face. Once I walked past a mean hive and they all went toward my dark socks (I had shorts on, I'm a fashion failure, didn't bother changing the socks after work).
A less experienced friend thought he had africanized bees until I was helping him and he pulled on a black sweater and black gloves :roll:. Once we fixed that it was much much much better for him.
Rick
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My jacket is just a spring jacket, mostly light colors blue but some darker blue as well, that don't bother me.
I notice too that they will go for my face too...darker eyes, lips, etc that stand out on my white face. Once I walked past a mean hive and they all went toward my dark socks (I had shorts on, I'm a fashion failure, didn't bother changing the socks after work).
A less experienced friend thought he had africanized bees until I was helping him and he pulled on a black sweater and black gloves :roll:. Once we fixed that it was much much much better for him.
Rick
I firmly believe they go for the face area because of the carbon dioxide coming outta the pie hole. That's why you can work them in just about anything or not, but usually its most prudent to at least wear a veil.
...JP
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I wear dark colored pants many times with my veil and jacket. They do not seem to care about the colors. I truly believe they really do not care about the colors. I think also that they are just attracted to the breath and perhaps the eyes.
Also I believe they just know when an animal is around by the smell.
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I wear dark colored pants many times with my veil and jacket. They do not seem to care about the colors. I truly believe they really do not care about the colors. I think also that they are just attracted to the breath and perhaps the eyes.
Also I believe they just know when an animal is around by the smell.
I agree with you Annette.
I think they recognize a threat greatly by smell, but probably they draw on all their senses to "feel" if there's a threat.
as Brian said drawing on eons of instinctual programming.
I was watching a show on TV called the dog whisper.
It was very intersting how the dogs unwelcome behaviors are triggered by the owners as he puts it "negative energy" , tension or fear.
Perhaps the bees pickup on things of this nature also.
I think that means JP must be a great smelling "cool cat" 8-) and the bees love him no matter what he's wearing :-D
He's the "The Bee Whisper" :-D
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I wear dark colored pants many times with my veil and jacket. They do not seem to care about the colors. I truly believe they really do not care about the colors. I think also that they are just attracted to the breath and perhaps the eyes.
Also I believe they just know when an animal is around by the smell.
I agree with you Annette.
I think they recognize a threat greatly by smell, but probably they draw on all their senses to "feel" if there's a threat.
as Brian said drawing on eons of instinctual programming.
I was watching a show on TV called the dog whisper.
It was very intersting how the dogs unwelcome behaviors are triggered by the owners as he puts it "negative energy" , tension or fear.
Perhaps the bees pickup on things of this nature also.
I think that means JP must be a great smelling "cool cat" 8-) and the bees love him no matter what he's wearing :-D
He's the "The Bee Whisper" :-D
Not to boast but my wife has always stated that even when I'm sweaty I don't stink. I don't know about that but I don't however use colognes ever, and my deodorant is unscented. Habits I fell into from yrs of deer hunting.
...JP
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I agree with you Annette.
I think they recognize a threat greatly by smell, but probably they draw on all their senses to "feel" if there's a threat.
as Brian said drawing on eons of instinctual programming.
I was watching a show on TV called the dog whisper.
It was very intersting how the dogs unwelcome behaviors are triggered by the owners as he puts it "negative energy" , tension or fear.
Perhaps the bees pickup on things of this nature also.
I think that means JP must be a great smelling "cool cat" 8-) and the bees love him no matter what he's wearing :-D
He's the "The Bee Whisper" :-D
Not to boast but my wife has always stated that even when I'm sweaty I don't stink. I don't know about that but I don't however use colognes ever, and my deodorant is unscented. Habits I fell into from yrs of deer hunting.
...JP
OK, now I am really falling off my chair laughing. If any of you think that JP smells OK, well, I think he HAS got ya under his spell. And poor JP's Wife, she must really be held under his spell or something. Picture JP out there swarm catchin', sweating in that hot Louisianna sun.....what a sight....I have a great imagination and I really don't think for one minute that JP's sweat smells anything short of stinky. Sorry, dear friend, JP, I think you got the wool pulled over a few people's eyes here!!! You will never convince me of anything otherwise, :shock: :-D :) :) :). Have a wonderful day, love our lives we live, attract great health. Cindi
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I agree with you Annette.
I think they recognize a threat greatly by smell, but probably they draw on all their senses to "feel" if there's a threat.
as Brian said drawing on eons of instinctual programming.
I was watching a show on TV called the dog whisper.
It was very intersting how the dogs unwelcome behaviors are triggered by the owners as he puts it "negative energy" , tension or fear.
Perhaps the bees pickup on things of this nature also.
I think that means JP must be a great smelling "cool cat" 8-) and the bees love him no matter what he's wearing :-D
He's the "The Bee Whisper" :-D
Not to boast but my wife has always stated that even when I'm sweaty I don't stink. I don't know about that but I don't however use colognes ever, and my deodorant is unscented. Habits I fell into from yrs of deer hunting.
...JP
OK, now I am really falling off my chair laughing. If any of you think that JP smells OK, well, I think he HAS got ya under his spell. And poor JP's Wife, she must really be held under his spell or something. Picture JP out there swarm catchin', sweating in that hot Louisianna sun.....what a sight....I have a great imagination and I really don't think for one minute that JP's sweat smells anything short of stinky. Sorry, dear friend, JP, I think you got the wool pulled over a few people's eyes here!!! You will never convince me of anything otherwise, :shock: :-D :) :) :). Have a wonderful day, love our lives we live, attract great health. Cindi
:hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit:
...JP
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I agree with you Annette.
I think they recognize a threat greatly by smell, but probably they draw on all their senses to "feel" if there's a threat.
as Brian said drawing on eons of instinctual programming.
I was watching a show on TV called the dog whisper.
It was very intersting how the dogs unwelcome behaviors are triggered by the owners as he puts it "negative energy" , tension or fear.
Perhaps the bees pickup on things of this nature also.
I think that means JP must be a great smelling "cool cat" 8-) and the bees love him no matter what he's wearing :-D
He's the "The Bee Whisper" :-D
Not to boast but my wife has always stated that even when I'm sweaty I don't stink. I don't know about that but I don't however use colognes ever, and my deodorant is unscented. Habits I fell into from yrs of deer hunting.
...JP
OK, now I am really falling off my chair laughing. If any of you think that JP smells OK, well, I think he HAS got ya under his spell. And poor JP's Wife, she must really be held under his spell or something. Picture JP out there swarm catchin', sweating in that hot Louisianna sun.....what a sight....I have a great imagination and I really don't think for one minute that JP's sweat smells anything short of stinky. Sorry, dear friend, JP, I think you got the wool pulled over a few people's eyes here!!! You will never convince me of anything otherwise, :shock: :-D :) :) :). Have a wonderful day, love our lives we live, attract great health. Cindi
:hissyfit: :hissyfit: :hissyfit:
...JP
Too funny! I forgot to mention that I work my girls in camo shirts sometimes. Doesn't seem to bother them. I'm inclined to think everyone's body chemistry is different. Like JP I use scent free deodorant but I do use cologne (not when I work the bees or go deer hunting). My wife seems to think Chaps smells good on me...LOL. She uses Vanilla Fields but she found out quickly the girls are fond of it and buzzed her quite frequently. Since bees react to pheromones, it makes logical sense to me that smells would dictate some of their reaction. Try eating a banana and working bees...
David
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When I was a greenhorn deer hunter, I hadn't learned yet that the best scent was no scent, even though everyone and their grandma were telling me to use this or that to cover my scent from the deer.
A friend I would not hunt with was fond of putting raccoon urine on as a cover scent. I heard it all. One idea stood above the rest so it seemed. Vanilla mixed with a little water.
Yep, good ole vanilla, smells really good, deer like it too...
So do hornets! Ever try hunting with a dozen or so hornets licking vanilla off ya skin?
Makes for an interesting hunt to say the least!
...JP :bee: :bee: :bee: :bee: :bee: :bee:
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Well after recently moving approx 400 hives I have found out that the only advantage color had was in locating the "screamers" on you. You know the lil bees that get on you and are cursing you in about 48 different ways in bee language. I see it as something like this - "When I get to you, I am gonna rip you a new one, how would you like me moving your house!"
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No body offends me as my sniffer doesn't work. Can't say the same thing in reverse though.
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In my very limited experience, I haven't noticed the bees being agitated by dark colors... I would imagine that there are a lot of factors that we don't even know about that affect their behavior, but I would have to agree that odor is a big factor....however, I'm not about to dress up in a dark, furry bear skin to test the theory!