What to Know About the Beekeeping Suit

By JJ Lang
One of the most important pieces in a beekeepers' wardrobe is the beekeeping suit. In this article we will take a brief look at the beekeeping suit and additional items to complement the suit.

The beekeeper's main protection against bee stings is to wear the right protective clothes. It is recommended to wear a suit that covers the full length of your body. There are various types of beekeeping suits available for you to choose from. You can choose a one piece suit or a separate jacket and pants. After you decided on the type of outfit you like, visit some of the beekeeping supply stores in your area or visit the Internet to see what is available.

Choose a suit that fits nice and comfortable to work in. It should not be too tight and also not too loose. It is recommended to choose a fairly light weight material. A popular choice among beekeepers is a cotton and polyester blend. The material should be of a tight enough weave to prevent the bee stings from penetrating. It should still be light enough to keep you nice and cool on a hot summer day. In case some bee stings get stuck in the fabric, you must be able to shake it off easily a firm tuck. A heavy weight pure cotton suit gives good protection, but it can become very hot to work in during the summer. Choose a light color, preferably white. White will keep you cool on a hot summer day and also make it easier to detect bees and bee stings on the suit.

The cuffs on the arms of your suit should be elasticized and snugly fitted around your wrists. The pant hem can also be elasticized and a side zipper is very convenient when wearing boots. Just remember, even if you wear a full body suit, you might still get the occasional sting. Many beekeepers even believe that you should get stung once in a while to build your immunity to the bee venom.

An integral and very important part of the beekeeping suit is a hat and a veil. The hat and veil is designed to keep the bees away from your face and neck area. There are various types of veils available. Some are draped over the hat and tied around the chest, while others can be zipped onto the suit.

It is vital to protect your face and neck area from bee stings because these areas of your body are "targeted" by the bees. Bees are attracted to a person's breath and darker areas on the face such as the eyes, nose and mouth. A sting on the neck can cause severe swelling to some people and they can experience difficulty breathing.

Gloves are worn to protect your hands against bee stings. Choose a pair of good quality leather gloves. Although most beekeepers use gloves, there are several beekeepers who prefer not to wear gloves when working with their hives. It is easier to work and inspect the hive without gloves because you can work more precise and accurate.

One of the last items is a pair of white rubber boots. The rubber is impenetrable to bee stings and is also easy to keep clean. Buy a good quality boot that is odor resistant.

A good habit is to clean your gear well after every use. Washing your beekeeping suit after each use will minimize the risk of bee stings. When a honeybee stings, a pheromone is excreted that is like an alarm signal to other bees of possible danger. Bees will react to this pheromone and an attack frenzy can be the result. When you wash you beekeeping suit regularly, the pheromone will not be detected by the bees.