I am a ole time beekeeper and I have been stung many times over the years but this year so far, I have been stung only twice. One time it was my own fault since my bees love my hot tub, I was taking the cover off and not noticing where I put my hand, one got me. I have since confused the bees and removed my hot tub from their imprinting process. And the next time that I got stung this year was when I was working them in only a veil, one had landed on my shirt and in the process of working them, my inner arm came too close to where the bee had landed and I got stung. No problem, I just flicked out the stinger with a fingernail and kept on going.
I usually work them only with a veil in the summer except when I take honey. they land on me all the time with no problems but over the years I have had a few pingers. Pingers are guard bees who keep on pinging the veil, even though they cannot get in. Pingers make me laugh.
with kind regards,
the bee lady in tn