Beekeeping is an intriguing pastime that demands a lot of perseverance, commitment, and expertise. The fact that beekeepers seldom ever use gloves when working with their hives is among the most intriguing features of this job. Since bees are known to sting and become highly aggressive when threatened, this may seem counterintuitive. But there are various explanations for why seasoned beekeepers choose working without gloves.
Let’s first address the issue of why bees don’t sting beekeepers before delving into the reasons why beekeepers don’t use gloves. Bees do not actually sting, unlike what many people think. Instead, they sting with the help of their modified stingers, which are ovipositors (structures that lay eggs) that have evolved into defense weapons. When a bee stings, it injects a poisonous toxin into the victim’s skin that can lead to allergic reactions like swelling and agony.
It is crucial to remember that unless provoked or threatened, bees will not sting. As a result, knowledgeable beekeepers who treat their bees with respect and care rarely get stung. They are aware of how bees behave and how to approach them in a kind and non-threatening way.
The uniforms worn by beekeepers are typically white, which is another intriguing facet of beekeeping. This is a sensible decision rather than a fashion one. Because they resemble the color of predators like bears and skunks, dark colors are attractive to bees. Wearing a white outfit, then, makes the beekeeper less intimidating to the bees and lowers the risk of getting stung.
Additionally, white suits reflect heat and sunshine, keeping the wearer cool and comfortable on warm summer days. White costumes are also simpler to identify in the field, which is crucial when working with bees in a sizable apiary.
A beekeeper’s hat is an important item of safety gear that helps keep bees out of the wearer’s face and hair. Although you may buy commercial beekeeping caps, it’s relatively simple and inexpensive to make your own.
You’ll need white cotton fabric, a wire rim, and elastic to build a beekeeper hat. With enough fabric left over to make a brim, cut a piece of clothing big enough to cover your head and shoulders. To keep the hat in place, sew the fabric to the wire rim and add elastic to the bottom border. As an alternative, you might add the cap to a beekeeper veil for further security.
A little, soft-bristled brush called a “bee brush” is used to gently transport bees from one place to another. Beekeepers use bee brushes to sweep bees off of their clothing or to remove bees from honeycomb frames. The brush’s gentle bristles actually help the bees travel in a certain direction rather than hurting them.
In conclusion, beekeeping is an intellectually and physically demanding pastime that may be quite rewarding. In order to lessen the chance of getting stung, seasoned beekeepers know how to approach bees in a calm and non-threatening manner. Beekeeping is safer and more pleasurable when done while wearing a white suit and using a bee brush to prevent bee stings.
A honey bee will only sting if they feel threatened or if their colony is being disrupted. Honey bees are not typically aggressive. The majority of honey bees won’t sting unless provoked or if they believe their colony is under danger.